spotlight The magazine of the Somerset · 2018. 9. 15. · ! 2! New Fellowship Committee Chair...

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SFD Subscriptions are now Due!

spotlight The magazine of

the Somerset Fellowship of

Drama

A New Editor and a New Look … building on the legacy left by Philip de Glanville To suggest that without Philip de Glanville there would be no Spotlight today is to master the art of the understatement. To many of us, Philip is Spotlight. And so it is with some trepidation that I have agreed to step into his size twelves* now that he has stepped down as editor of Spotlight. They are large shoes to fill. And I know that I won’t be able to do it without the help and support of members. Philip has already been invaluable in coaching and encouraging me but without input, feedback and contributions from the members, I fear I am doomed to fail! Which is a polite way of saying, “Help!” The magazine will change. Firstly, I have decided to alter the format to A4, moving away from the format that has existed since the days of print. A4 is easier to produce but it is also easier to read online (including on tablets such as the iPad) and it is easier to structure the pages for hard copy for those of you who still like the printed page. Initially the content will stay more or less the same but over time I hope to make changes that will help Spotlight to complement the website, which Philip will continue to oversee, and to include more features exploring the fun side of amateur dramatics and, hopefully, help you to share thoughts and ideas. I would love your feedback. What do you think of the new layout and what content would you like to see in future? How can we continue to improve and encourage more people to read Spotlight and contribute to it? This is very much your periodical and I want to do everything I can to make it interesting and relevant so your thoughts and suggestions are invaluable. Enjoy! Sam Allen Editor *editorial licence has been used!

Charity No.1084863

In this month’s Spotlight… Over the years Philip has turned the spotlight on many of us in the Fellowship so, at last, we have turned the spotlight round and put Philip de Glanville In the Spotlight. See Page 4 In Brief 2 Editorial – the Olympic Legacy 3 Phoebe Rees Nominations 6 What’s On the Autumn 9 SFD’s 2012 AGM 11 Letters 12 Chris Harris’ Workshop 13 Barnstormers on Tour 14

Philip de Glanville at last year’s Phoebe Rees Awards

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New Fellowship Committee Chair David Jenkins 01278 786501 [email protected] Vice-chair Di Dean 01458 250852 [email protected] Secretary Pat Sollis 01823 490750 [email protected] Treasurer Richard Derry 01643 705245 [email protected] Website Philip de Glanville 01373 451680 [email protected] Spotlight Sam Allen 01823 322600 [email protected] Membership Sherry Briggs 01458 273476 [email protected] Presentations Vacancy Originals Jane Edwards 01823 322440 [email protected] County Drama Philip de Glanville 01373 451680 [email protected] Training Vacancy Phoebe Rees Anna Bowerman 01460 57857 [email protected] Cinderella Sam Nichol 01278 765912 [email protected] David Beach Sandra Pittwood 01460 67481 [email protected] Youth Vacancy

In Brief…

Check

out What’s

On

on Pages 9 & 10. We’ve

included the next t

hree

month’s production

s to give

you a chance to

book the m

ost

popular

shows!

Ray Sebright

The sad news of Ray’s recent and premature demise was announced at the Fellowship’s AGM this past Saturday. Many members will recall that Ray served as a Cinderella Trophy adjudicator until three years ago. The Fellowship’s thoughts and condolences are extended to his wife Ann. .

SFD Original One Act Play Reading

The annual reading of shortlisted entries for the 2012 Original Playwriting Competition will be on Sunday October 14th from 10.00am to 4.00pm at the home of the Taunton Thespians, The Place in Wilfred Road (just off East Reach, satnav code TA1 1TB). Ample free car parking is available nearby in Victoria Gate Car Park. The purpose of the day is to read aloud shortlisted entries for the annual Original Playwriting Competition. Approximately six scripts will be read, with a break for a sandwich lunch (provided), and we hope to see a good turnout. It is very helpful for the SFD reading panel to hear plays read by attendees and directors looking for a County Drama entry for 2013 may also want to listen to these brand new pieces with a view to taking one of them on. Original scripts are exciting to do, and to be able to work with the playwright is a rare and interesting experience. If further information is required, or if you would like to register your interest (so that we have numbers for lunch), please call the competition coordinator, Jane Edwards, on 01823 433474 or email [email protected].

What did they say…? “Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made. ” ― George Burns

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Were you Inspired? The Olympic Legacy Editorial by Sam Allen The pillar-‐box in the village of Trull, where I live, has been painted gold. Deb Criddle, a Paralympic equestrian claimed a team gold and two silvers in the freestyle dressage and individual event at London 2012. A fantastic achievement. Whether or not you are a sports fan, it was hard to miss the Olympic and Paralympic Games. And it was hard not to be caught up in the euphoria surrounding the success of so many athletes. But most of all, it was impossible not to be impressed by the dedication and determination of the winners. Have there ever been so many tears of joy, tears of sadness, and tears for no apparent reason but tears that were impossible to hold back anyway? If they made crying an Olympic Sport there would be even more gold pillar-‐boxes! And behind every athlete there was a story. Of course they had natural talent. But there were tales of adversity and hardship: the early morning training before school; the hours away from home; the difficulty of accepting defeat but the determination to get back up there and go again. In many ways all these difficulties were magnified in the case of the Paralympic competitors. They had so much more to overcome and yet they did it with steely determination and commitment. Which may all seem far-‐removed from amateur dramatics in Somerset, but that gold post-‐box round the corner from where I live

changed that perspective for me. These athletes are people in our community, people just like us. What they have achieved has been gained on the back of their own efforts. OK, so you need some natural talent, but what you need most of all is the aptitude, the determination and the sheer guts to get the job done. How does this relate to the world of amateur dramatics? Well, perhaps if a bit of the athletes’ approach rubbed off on us we could also achieve greater things. So often, it is easy to despair when we have obstacles to overcome. We complain because the stage is too small, the costumes are too tight, the song is just too bloody difficult! And we allow our artistic temperaments to overwhelm our determination. At just such moments, we should allow the Olympians to inspire us. We should adopt their steely determination, their grit and their can-‐do attitude. We should realise it’s not good enough to turn up at rehearsal without knowing our lines, to put on shows that are under-‐rehearsed or to say of a poor dance routine, “it’ll just have to do”. When that is how we feel, we should look at that gold pillar-‐box, we should remember the approach of the Olympic elite and we should get back in there and do it again. And again and again until we, too, are gold medallists in our own right.

Children feel the pride and joy of success.

Unsung Heroes Over the next few months we are going to feature the people who beaver away behind the scenes to make our shows a success. We want to feature the prompts, the prop makers, the seamstresses, the lighting techs and all the other folk whose name appears in the programme but who we rarely get to see. Have you got an unsung hero in your society who deserves to be better known? If so, please get in touch at [email protected] and we’ll take it from there.

What did they say…? “At times in my life the only place I have been happy is when I am on stage.” ― Bob Dylan

Donʼt Forget… The deadline for submissions to Spotlight is 21st of the previous month. Email: [email protected]

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In the Spotlight…

Philip, how did you first get involved with the SFD?

Way back in December 1986 I got a phone call from Rod Hancox, out of the blue, asking if I would like to take on an original play which had been selected from that year’s One Act Playwriting Competition. It was called Beau Jeste, and Rod was looking for someone to direct it in the Original Play Festival which was to be held at Bridgwater Arts Centre. I rather liked the play, and we had a lot of fun with it. Anyway soon after that Festival I was asked to join the Fellowship Committee, and now – 25 years later – I am still going fairly strong. I don’t remember a lot about that period, except that David Beach was Chairman, and since we were part of the Community Council in those days we used to meet upstairs in their offices in Taunton, with Eileen Zoers as our Secretary. I can’t swear to it, but I think I am probably the only remaining member of the Committee still serving the SFD from those days. In my time I have directed five one-‐act plays for the Original Play Festival, have been producer for a couple of County Productions, have been Moderator for the Phoebe Rees Competition, and since then I have been fairly

continuously one of the adjudicating panel. I have done two stints as County Drama Coordinator, I have been Area Rep for Mendip for the past couple of years, and I have been editor of Spotlight on and off since its inception 15 years ago. In 2010 I also took on the SFD website. What made you decide to start Spotlight, in its current form? The idea of a regular magazine for the members of the Fellowship wasn’t new. Unfortunately all the back numbers were destroyed in a fire in the Community Council in the 60s but I did see a copy of Spotlight dating from the 50’s which ran to about 40 pages and which I read with enormous interest. However by the time I joined the Committee the only form of communication with the members was an A4 newsletter, which was called News & Views, and which came out roughly four times a year. Tony Brown used to produce it on his computer. It was very difficult to keep it up to date, and it was pretty ‘thin’. Nevertheless some people were very anti the idea of a monthly magazine with a glossy cover – I still remember Andrew Gartshore’s letter, published in Spotlight Jan 1988, in which he said the members of Tintinhull Drama Group were “generally happy with the previous newsletter and that none of them wanted their own copy of Spotlight”! Where are they now, I wonder? My basic tenets were that it should always come out on time, on the first day of the month, that it should be up to date and relevant, that it should include articles from as many different people as possible, and that I would publish any drama-‐related letter

During his several stints as editor of Spotlight, Philip de Glanville has put many people on the spot or in the Spotlight (both names have been in the past for occasional profiles of members). In this issue we have turned the spotlight around to shine it firmly on Philip and to ask him the sort of questions he has asked so many others over the years.

Philip de Glanville

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anyone cared to send me. Later this policy had to be revised slightly when the letters column, under Arthur Cummins’ editorship, was used in what appeared to be a vengeful and extremely personal attack on an adjudicator in 2004. Do you feel that Spotlight succeeded, and do you think it still has a place? Two very different questions in the same breath! Yes, I think that in its heyday, Spotlight was everything I had hoped it would be. I remember feeling an enormous pride and satisfaction that it had become such an established part of the SFD that it was hard to imagine how we had ever managed without it. But keeping it fresh and interesting and relevant is such a demanding job, and not one which anyone can keep up indefinitely. This, my most recent stint as Editor, has been exhausting. I did begin to realise that interest in it was waning, in some quarters at least, three or four years ago and you may remember that I tried to move us to a website instead. There were a number of reasons for this, the most persuasive of which was that we were spending almost our entire membership income on publishing the hard-‐copy version, and we simply couldn’t afford to continue. There was such an outcry however at the idea that Spotlight would cease, that we came up with the compromise that it would be posted on the SFD website as a PDF, so that people who wanted to could print it off. This was the main reason for continuing to publish its pics in black and white. I do think that its days in its present form are pretty much over, but undoubtedly a magazine of this sort still has a place, as long as it remains interesting and informative, and I am very hopeful that under your editorship, Sam, it will regain its vigour and enjoy a new lease of life. Have things changed for the better during your time with the SFD? Yes and no. What we saw at the time to be the risky decision to become independent in 1998 undoubtedly paid off handsomely, and I think we shall always be grateful to Mike Linham for guiding us so successfully through this process. The next few years were golden ones for the SFD under his leadership. In particular there was an enormous increase in

non-‐competitive drama activities; the growth of training, and the introduction of the County Drama Production, were wonderful examples of a new spirit of cooperation between societies and a breaking down of the barriers between them. Sadly both have drifted into the doldrums in recent years. The competitions have grown enormously, and have attracted more and more member groups, and I don’t think anyone would deny that the standard of performances we are seeing nowadays is higher, and the range of productions greater, than ever before. I’m sure this is largely because of the adjudication process, but the downside to competitive drama is that it does tend to reinforce barriers and promote insularity. I, for one, am very keen to see training back on the agenda, and haven’t entirely lost hope that one of these days we may resurrect the County Production. Any particularly happy memories? Oh, lots! I’ve really enjoyed being so involved in so many ways with the Fellowship over the years, but there have been several highlights. Being awarded the Sybil Thorndike Trophy way back in 1996, after my stint as Phoebe Rees Moderator, even though not really deserved, was one I shall cherish. I also remember with enormous affection the comradeship engendered between the five societies involved with the Confusions tour in 2001, the fun we had putting on Andrea Webb-‐Taylor’s play Of Long Days and Brave Knights as a committee in 2002, and the joy of taking Les Clarke’s wonderful play Sinking to the English semi-‐finals in 2010. This is beginning to sound like a retirement speech…! I assure you I have no intention of retiring just yet. There is still lots I want to do over the next few months – not least of which is to make the SFD website a bit more interesting and useful (and would welcome ideas for doing so); I want to make sure that next year’s County Drama Festival goes as well, if not better, as this year’s did, and I very much want to fulfil my promise of running another training day for New Directors. It was supposed to be held in October but we have run into problems with finding dates which all the facilitators can manage, and will have to push it back to early in the New Year I reckon.

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Phoebe Rees Nominations The Phoebe Rees is a year-round full-length play competition which is open to any drama group in Somerset. Anna Bowerman is the Coordinator. Productions are judged by one of a panel of visiting adjudicators, and the group receives a full written adjudication, usually within a week or two of the performance. For 2012 the Moderator is Alex Webb and the Adjudicating Panel comprises Clive & Lynne Wooldridge, Lyn Lockyer, Philip de Glanville and Polly English. After much deliberation they have arrived at this year’s list of nominations. The results will be announced at the Presentation Evening at Taunton Racecourse on Friday 26th October.

Best Production Barnstormers The Winslow Boy West Somerset College Waiting for Godot Swan Theatre In Praise of Love Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa Street Theatre The Complete works of WS Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers Best Direction Mark Payne Swan Theatre Tess of the D’Urbervilles Sam Jones West Somerset College Waiting for Godot Robert Graydon Swan Theatre In Praise of Love Hilary Gray Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa Ben Lintott Roadwater Players Run for Your Wife

Karen Trevis Street Theatre The Complete works of WS Lyn Lockyer Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers Challenge Trophy Frome Drama Club The Revengers’ Comedies Street Theatre Brassed Off West Huntspill See How They Run Street Theatre The Complete works of WS Artistic Impression Frome Drama Club The Revengers’ Comedies Swan Theatre Tess of the D’Urbervilles Street Theatre Brassed Off Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa Street Theatre The Complete works of WS

Creative Set Design Swan Theatre Tess of the D’Urbervilles Tickenham GD An Ideal Husband Street Theatre Brassed Off Taunton Thespians Outside Edge Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa IES All My Sons Wells Little Theatre Animal Farm Set Construction Minehead DS Move Over Mrs Markham Swan Theatre In Praise of Love Civic Players Absurd Person Singular Roadwater Players Run for Your Wife Minehead DS Relatively Speaking Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers

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Costumes Minehead DS Move Over Mrs Markham Taunton Thespians A Murder is Announced Taunton Thespians Outside Edge West Huntspill See How They Run Barnstormers Sweeny Todd Civic Players Deliver us from Evil Creative Lighting Swan Theatre Tess of the D’Urbervilles Street Theatre Brassed Off Barnstormers The Winslow Boy Street Theatre And Then There Were None West Huntspill See How They Run Barnstormers Sweeny Todd Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers Sound Frome Drama Club The Revengers’ Comedies Civic Players Absurd Person Singular Taunton Thespians Outside Edge

West Huntspill See How They Run CUDOS Cheshire Cats Minehead DS Relatively Speaking Effects Frome Drama Club The Revengers’ Comedies Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers Actor in a Leading Role Tom Spark (Estragon) West Somerset College Waiting for Godot Breyon Gibbs (Vladimer) West Somerset College Waiting for Godot Clive Wooldridge (Philip) Minehead DS Relatively Speaking Tickle Daley (Stanley) Roadwater Players Run for Your Wife Phil Turley (various) Street Theatre The Complete works of WS Neil Howiantz (various) Street Theatre The Complete works of WS Ed Philips (various) Street Theatre The Complete works of WS Rob Coady (Arty) Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers

Actor in a Supporting Role Richard J Thomas (Oliver Knightly) Frome Drama Club The Revengers’ Comedies Alistair Murray (Rev Humphrey) West Huntspill See How They Run Chris Williamson (Chris) IES All My Sons Dan Packer (George Deever) IES All My Sons Matt Ward (Nanny Ogg) Taunton Thespians Lords & Ladies Peter Fernandez (Louie) Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers Chris Marshall (DS Troughton) Roadwater Players Run for Your Wife Actress in a Leading Role Jen Warwick (Catherine) Barnstormers The Winslow Boy Jenny Hancock ( Lydia) Swan Theatre In Praise of Love Tina Waller (Karen) Frome Drama Club The Revengers’ Comedies Caroline Kelly (Maggie) Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa

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Lynn Gurnett (Chris) Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa Sarah Elliott (Maggie) CUDOS Cheshire Cats Liz Halliday (Mrs Lovett) Barnstormers Sweeny Todd Actress in a Supporting Role Swannie (Mrs Swettenham) Taunton Thespians A Murder is Announced Anne Scullard (Kate) Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa Sarah Jane Cross (Agnes) Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa Jackie Strong (Ida) West Huntspill See How They Run Paula Denning (Ann Deever) IES All My Sons Emma James (Squealer) Wells Little Theatre Animal Farm Cameo (Male) Geoff Hunt (Bruce Tick) Frome Drama Club The Revengers’ Comedies Mike Parish (Phipps) Tickenham GD An Ideal Husband

Duncan Cameron (Anthony) Street Theatre And Then There Were None Ian Scott (Handsome Drunk) CUDOS Cheshire Cats Adam Smith (Thisbe) Taunton Thespians Lords & Ladies Chris Rendell (Jonas Fogg) Barnstormers Sweeny Todd Nigel McBrayne (Beadle) Barnstormers Sweeny Todd Cameo (Female) Linda Roberts (Lady Markby) Tickenham GD An Ideal Husband Lucy Perry (Aerobics Instructor) CUDOS Cheshire Cats Heidi Scott (Madge) CUDOS Cheshire Cats Lynda Heley-‐Flatley (Beggarwoman) Barnstormers Sweeny Todd

Youth under 21 (Male) Tom Spark (Estragon) West Somerset College Waiting for Godot Breyon Gibbs (Vladimir) West Somerset College Waiting for Godot Sean Scannel (Joey Cruttwell) Swan Theatre In Praise of Love Sam Rich (Jay) Swan Theatre Lost in Yonkers Youth under 21 (Female) Sophie Alexander (Tess) Swan Theatre Tess of the D’Urbervilles Louisa Flatley (Rose) Barnstormers Dancing at Lughnasa Becky Hutt (Johanna) Barnstormers Sweeny Todd Youth under 16 John Knight (Ronnie Winslow) Barnstormers The Winslow Boy Catherine Vicarage (Pewsey, Magenta, Elf) Taunton Thespians Lords & Ladies Seb Davies (Tobias) Barnstormers Sweeny Todd

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October Oct 2nd – 6th CALENDAR GIRLS By Tim Firth Merlin Theatre Company Merlin Theatre, Frome at 7.45pm The story of a group of ordinary women who persuaded one another to pose for a charity calendar – in the nude! Directed by Lisa Kendall BOX OFFICE : 01373 465949 Phoebe Rees entry Oct 18/19/20/24/25/27th UNDER MILK WOOD By Dylan Thomas ON TOUR For details see page 14. Phoebe Rees entry Oct 23rd – 27th SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET By Stephen Sonheim Ilminster Entertainments Society Warehouse Theatre, Ilminster at 7.30pm In Victorian England, a vengeful Sweeney Todd has just been released from jail for a crime he did not commit. With his accomplice, Mrs Lovett, the 'demon barber of Fleet Street' cooks up a hilariously macabre revenge scheme in this crafty, comedic and captivating musical.. Directed by Philip Wells BOX OFFICE: 07943 779880

October 26th PHOEBE REES AWARDS Taunton Racecourse Contact: Di Dean [email protected] November Nov 6th – 10th DIAMOND GEMS WAA Operatic Society 60 Years of Musicals -‐ A Celebration of the Queen's Jubilee The Arts Centre, Eight Acre Lane, Wellington at 7.30pm . Sat. Matinee 2.30pm An evening of songs from the musicals, including South Pacific, Chicago, Les Miserables, We Will Rock You, Grease, Oklahoma and many more Tickets £6 BOX OFFICE: 01823 663597 Nov 7th – 10th THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE By Jim Cartwright Street Theatre Strode Theatre, Street at 7.30pm Little Voice sits alone in her bedroom, avoiding her loud mouthed mother, Mari. LV’s only means of escape is through her father’s old vinyl collection but she has a special gift and can produce stunning impersonations of all her favourite stars. When Mari’s new boyfriend hears her sing, he sees LV as his ticket to fame and fortune. But stardom is the last thing she is after. Will LV face the music or set about finding her own voice? BOX OFFICE: 01458 442846 www.strodetheatre.co.uk Phoebe Rees entry. SFD Concessions

Nov 13th –17th LEND ME A TENOR By Ken Ludwig Taunton Thespians Tacchi-‐Morris Arts Centre Theatre, Taunton. Evenings 7.30pm. Saturday matinee 2.30pm. An Italian tenor hired to sing an opera lead has fallen into a wine-‐assisted stupor and is presumed dead. A docile theatre assistant blacks up and wins acclaim as Otello. Meanwhile, Il Stupendo awakens, dons his costume and tries to get into the theatre to perform and is set upon by the police. Thence follows events in which the two Moors are absurdly mistaken by confused and swooning females. Add a volatile Italian wife, an outrageous bellhop and a hyper impresario and we have a recipe to rival the classic farces. Directed by Ron Roberts BOX OFFICE: 01823 414141 or 01823 336344. Bookings on-‐line available at www.tacchi-‐morris.com Phoebe Rees entry. SFD Concessions Nov 14th – 17th ANNIE Strouse & Charnin Nailsea Musicals Scotch Horn Centre, Nailsea at 7.30 pm Sat Matinee 2.30pm This award winning musical has been a favourite with adults and kids alike for generations and tells the story of Annie's search for her parents, who left her in a New York orphanage and her adoption by Daddy Warbucks. Produced by Paul Jennings BOX OFFICE: 0845 224 7429 www.nailseamusicals.org.uk

What’s On…

Phoebe Rees Awards

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Nov 15th – 17th OKLAHOMA! Rodgers & Hammerstein W.O.D.S The Playhouse, Weston-‐super Mare at 7.30pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm) Oklahoma is one of the most popular of all Broadway musicals and has been delighting audiences since Curley first welcomed the 'beautiful morning' back in the early 1940s. It is a show that is packed with colourful characters, fine comedy, exciting choreography and hit song after hit song. People Will Say We're in Love, Kansas City and Many a New Day to name but a few. What better show to celebrate the Society's 40th year. Director Robbie Burns,; Musical Director Carol Kenway Choreographers Carrie Buck & Bev Priest BOX OFFICE 01934 645544 www.worleoperatic.co.uk/tickets

SFD Concessions Nov 19th – 24th THAT FACE by Polly Stenham Swan Theatre Company Swan Theatre, Yeovil at 7:45pm Mia is at boarding school. She has access to drugs. They are Martha’s. Henry is preparing for art college. He has access to alcohol. From Martha. Martha controls their lives. Martha is their mother. Directed by Ian White BOX OFFICE: 10935 462781/2 www.swan-‐theatre.co.uk Phoebe Rees entry. SFD Concessions

Nov 21st – 24th CROWN MATRIMONIAL By Royce Ryton Tickenham Drama Group Tickenham Village Hall 7.45pm It is, perhaps, easy to forget a time when the monarchy was in real jeopardy and less celebrated than it is in jubilee year. This play tells the tale of the abdication from the point of view of the Royal Family and their close advisers. It focuses on the personal moral dilemmas of the King and his family and courtiers as they face the crisis that brought the Monarchy close to collapse but led to Elizabeth becoming Queen. Directed by Alex Coghlan-‐Forbes. BOX OFFICE: 01275 852663 www.tickendrama.org.uk Nov 21st – 24th THE MEMORY OF WATER by Shelagh Stephenson South Petherton Combined Arts Society Drama Group The David Hall, South Petherton at 7.30 p.m. This play is both poignant and hilarious. Three sisters meet in the family home on the eve of their mother's funeral. Each has her own version of their shared past. The play is full of amusing moments and great one-‐liners. It won an Olivier for Best Comedy in 2000. Directed by Celia Crookes BOX OFFICE: the David Hall Box Office, tel. 01460 24034 Nov 29th & 30th & Dec 1st THE VICAR OF DIBLEY By Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter Athenaeum Limelight Players The Athenaeum Centre, High Street, Warminster

Adapted from the original TV series by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-‐Carpenter. With the kind permission of Tiger Aspect Productions and Comic Relief. The performances are by non-‐professional actors BOX OFFICE: 01985 213891 www.theath.org.uk December Dec 5th – 8th ROBIN HOOD, MEN IN TIGHTS By Rob Sissons Trull Players Trull Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Sat Matinee 2.00pm This pantomime is an invitation to enjoy a frolic in the forest! Watch heroic Robin battle the evil Sheriff of Nottingham in his bid to obtain justice for the poor and the hand of the winsome Maid Marian. As ever he will be ably supported by his Merrie Men and somewhere a Dame will be found! A recipe for high drama, comedy and romance (aaah!). Directed by Mavis Holdsworth BOX OFFICE 01823 336150 or 01823 256687 www.trullplayers.org.uk Dec 5th – 8th UNORIGINAL SIN By David Tristram Civic Players Swan Theatre in Yeovil at 7.45pm each night. Directed by June Colledge BOX OFFICE: 01935 421772

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The 2012 AGM Area Reps to be Abolished On Saturday evening about thirty people gathered in ‘The Place’ in Taunton for the Somerset Fellowship of Drama Annual General meeting. The event was kindly facilitated by Taunton Thespians who were thanked by the committee chairman, David Jenkins. David reported on a year that was not without difficulty as some committee members were standing down. There had been particular concern about the role of Treasurer. As a registered charity, it is a requirement for the Fellowship to have a Treasurer and if someone had not stepped forward there was a real possibility that the Fellowship would fold. Fortunately, Richard Derry an independent member from Minehead stepped into the breach. With previous experience as a Treasurer for a voluntary organisation, Richard will be a great asset to the Fellowship. He replaces Monica Nichols who has worked hard over the years in two stints as Treasurer. Also standing down as presentations coordinator is Di Dean although she will continue in her role as Vice Chair. And Sherry Briggs is standing down as membership secretary but she has agreed to stay on until December to oversee this year’s subscription payments. Fortunately two names have been put forward to take over as membership secretary from January. David Jenkins thanked all three retirees for their hard work and dedication and also gave a special note of thanks to secretary Pat Sollis for all the help and support she has given him. With Sam Nichol being re-‐elected as Cinderella coordinator and Sam Allen taking on Spotlight, there remain three vacancies on the committee: presentations coordinator, training coordinator and youth activities coordinator. Volunteers would be extremely welcome! In a break from the arrangements that have been in place since the early days of the Fellowship, the AGM agreed, after much heated discussion, to stop having area representatives. The majority felt that, with modern communications, members can

contact the committee easily and there is no real need for local contact. With a strong balance sheet the AGM agreed to keep membership fees and competition entry fees unchanged. As is customary, two awards were presented on the evening. The Pat Hudson Trophy for a significant contribution to youth drama in Somerset was awarded in absentia to Kevin Stratton of the Wellington Arts Association. The Sybil Thorndyke Trophy for a significant contribution to drama in Somerset was awarded to Polly Bray. After the evening everyone tucked in to a fish and chip supper and then enjoyed (if that is the right word) a fiendishly difficult quiz set by David Jenkins. The winners were given four bottles of wine.

New Treasurer Richard Derry Asked about his thoughts on becoming our new treasurer, Richard gave us an interesting insight… “It was at precisely 4 am this morning, 30th September, that I realised the task I had taken on as the new treasurer for SFD. A task that I am looking forward to as I have carried out this job before for a Steam Locomotive Preservation Group and a local Community Group here in Minehead. I have a hard act to follow as Monica has done an excellent job in her time as treasurer and I must thank her for her help and advice she has given me and I am sure I will be consulting her again before I am settled into this challenging task. I already have some subs to pay into the bank this week. I look forward to an enjoyable time working with the SFD”

David Jenkins presents Polly Bray with the Sybil Thordyke Trophy

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Letters Editorship The monthly editorials of Spotlight, as written by Philip de Glanville, have been notable for their absence of the use of cliché. He will readily forgive, I’m sure, the use of some here for we are truly ‘at the end of an era’. As we read in last month’s editorial, Philip was responsible for inaugurating Spotlight shortly before the Fellowship as an independent organisation was ‘born’ in 1998. Other than for a break of two, separate, years, He has edited ten issues a year ever since. His monthly ‘missives to the members’ were invariably refreshing, frequently encouraging and always praising the achievements of members or groups. All that amounts to years of monthly time and endeavour producing a ‘must-‐read’ in a ‘flagship’ magazine that served to cement the Fellowship. On behalf of all of the members thank you, Philip, for a job very well done. It would have been a sad loss to the Fellowship if Spotlight had ceased to exist. It is thus a matter of collective, joyful thanks to Sam Allen for ‘stepping into the breach’ and keeping it

alive. It is hoped that all of us, as members, understand that we need to give Sam support and encouragement by submitting articles and letters reflecting and commenting on our activities in theatre, be they pantomime, musical or ‘legit’.

Ron Roberts, Committee member.

All Letters Welcome I would love to get more letters or emails from all members. If you’ve got a comment, complaint, idea or something you just want to get off your chest, this is the forum for you. Email me at: [email protected]

Sam Allen Editor, Spotlight

What did they say…? “Actors search for rejection. If they don't get it they reject themselves.” ― Charlie Chaplin

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Itʼs Panto Time! Chris Harris Runs a Workshop in Trull For years now the moderator of the Cinderella Awards, Ron Roberts, has espoused the benefits of a Chris Harris Workshop. And so Trull Players invited Chris along in late September to work his magic at the early stage of their rehearsals for this year’s show. Some folk from Roadwater Players joined the group. Chris is great fun. He brings learning alive and everyone who attended thought it was a great day. Barry Bloxham, a relative newcomer to the world of pantomime, said, “The best aspect of the day was the very friendly way Chris Harris dealt with us all.” Chris was able to bring out the best in both novices and experienced thespians. Everyone learned something. “I found the history of pantomime and its connection with Commedia Dell'Arte fascinating,” commented Barry who was particularly keen to learn about some of the traditions of the pantomime genre. Club Secretary Linda Brierley was fulsome in her praise of the day. “A Saturday spent with Chris is something you shouldn't miss!” she enthused, emphasizing the injection of

renewed energy that the day had brought to the club. And everyone has something new to think about as they head back to rehearsals. It was a long day, and everyone was tired by the end of it, but they all agreed it was great fun and very worthwhile! Chris is a real pantomime enthusiast. “It involves everything you will ever meet in dramatics: voice, movement, stage-‐craft, slapstick, song, dance, illusion, transformation, comedy techniques, physical theatre, characterisation. It’s all there!” He added a word of warning though. “With it comes great responsibility and it’s our duty to make sure that a child’s visit to the pantomime acts as the catalyst needed to make the child want to return again and again ..............and again. Have a great pantomime season.”

Chris Harris as Nurse Nelly

Barry Bloxham mastering the delicate art of plate balancing!

Chris leads some practical

work

Chris Harris is appearing as Nurse Nelly in the Bath Theatre Royal panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this Christmas. He also directs with Nichola McAuliffe as the Wicked Queen. If you want Chris to run a workshop for your group he can be contacted on: http://www.chrisharrisproductions.co.uk.

Have you got an event in your club that you would like Spotlight to feature? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me at: [email protected]

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The Theatre May be Closed but the Show Must Go On! Barnstormers donʼt let a closed theatre stop the show As reported recently the Regal Theatre in Minehead is now closed for three to four months while enhancement works, including the installing of a customer lift, are carried out. Whilst this is a welcome boost to the volunteer run facility it leaves the local amateur theatre companies without their usual performance venue. The Barnstormers, for one, have come up with an alternative for their autumn production. They will be on tour at the end of October around the villages of West Somerset. Going back, in fact, to the roots of the group, which was formed by Wilf Smith out of the Minehead Festival Players with just that intention. When the Regal became available, through the auspices of John Welch the Barnstormers, like the other local groups, gravitated towards it and supported its aim of providing a theatrical venue for West Somerset. So for their autumn to production the Barnstormers have decided to take Dylan Thomas’ ‘Under Milk Wood’ out on the road to six venues around the locality. The play, originally written for radio, lends itself to a flexible format which allows the facilities at the various locations to be used to their best advantage. Set in the fictional small south Wales harbour town of Llareggub, ‘Under Milk Wood’ introduces us, during the passage of one day, to its inhabitants and their lives, loves, weaknesses and aspirations. There is a lot of affection for the colourful characters and their idiosyncrasies. All told with a great deal of humour and an exuberance of language. With its rural and coastal setting there are many parallels with our own location, a fact not missed by director Patrick Daley who found reflections in it of his own upbringing in the small harbour town of Watchet. The play has, justly, become a classic and is much loved by a wide audience and this

production promises to deliver an evening to enchant the aficionado and newcomer alike. The ten performers, drawn from the best of local talent, will introduce us, during our day in Llareggub, to over 65 of the residents from Captain Cat the retired, blind sea captain to twice widowed Mrs Ogmore-‐Pritchard in trig and trim Bay View, a house for paying guests. We’ll meet Willy Nilly the postman who, with Mrs Willy Nilly, knows everybody’s business and Dai Bread with his two wives, Mr Pugh the headteacher and his needling wife, Cherry Owen and his doting wife, Organ Morgan and his long suffering wife not to mention Mr Waldo, Nogood Boyo and Polly Garter with her garden full of babies. The vibrant descriptions and dialogue wheel the audience through their dreams and desires, their nightmares and disappointments and spins a vision that is at once crazy and honest, touching and beautiful. The performances take place at Roadwater Village Hall, Dunster Tithe Barn, Watchet Knights Templar School, Wootton Courteney Village Hall, Porlock Village Hall and Minehead Methodist Church Hall between the 18th and 27th October.

UNDER MILK WOOD by Dylan Thomas Barnstormers on tour Thur18th Oct Roadwater Village Hall Friday 19th Oct Dunster Tithe Barn Sat 20th Oct Watchet Knights Templar Schl Wed24th Oct Wootton Courtenay Village Hl Thur 25th Oct Porlock Village Hall Sat 27th Oct Minehead Methodist Chch Hl Performances start 7.30pm In Thomas’ true classic of modern British writing we hear and see behind the eyes of a host of curious characters in their dreams and waking hours during the cycle of one day in the small Welsh fishing village of Llareggub. An exuberant and mischievous use of language. Directed by Patrick Daley BOX OFFICE: 07969 168 003

spotlight The magazine of the Somerset · 2018. 9. 15. · ! 2! New Fellowship Committee Chair...

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