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Prompt March '15
magazine
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Yes here they are - the happy winners of
our Avon Festival and the list of trophy
winners and the nominations. Well done
everyone! Yet there are other almost more
important pictures that one takes away
from a festival and tucks away in one’s
memory box.
From this year’s festival – silly names –
Who on earth could have thought of
Cherry Bakewells as a name for a drama
group? Then we learn that it was our good
friend, Peter Nichols, favourite cake and
their production was in his memory. What
about ‘Jeff Meets the Devil in a Little Chef’
as the title of a play? We discover that the
author, Helen K Parker was just saying as
it was - that was the plot of the play and
that was the setting.
Also from this year’s festival - new entries
from Journeyman Theatre Productions,
acting together as a team for the first
time in the first performance of a new
play, Court Players, at one time festival
regulars, returning to the one act scene
with a second original play from Ben
Cannon and, of course, the return of
another ‘old-timer’ Terry Milton smiling
and playing the piano in Backwell Theatre
Company’s winning production of Travels
with My Aunt – as I heard a young man
behind me say ‘I don’t understand what it’s
all about – but it’s great’! Thank you all
the companies who gave us such excellent
memories and such good time in the 2015
Avon One Act Festival.
Ann
Music and drama diary Avon One Act Drama Festival
List of Winners and nominees
Bristol One Act Festival p2
p4
p6
p7
Backwell Theatre Company - The winning team
Review: Entertaining Angels
Focus: Kingswood Players
Playwriting Competition
News: Out and About p11
List of AAD drama groups p8
p9
p10
p12
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1
What’s On...
MARCH
10 The Right
Honourable Gentleman by
M. Bradley-Dyne, rehearsed
reading, Bristol Playgoers Club,
Newman Hall, Westbury-onTrym, BS9 4DR, 7.20 for
7.30 pm
24 – 28 West Side Story, Bristol
Musical Youth
Productions,
Redgrave
Theatre,
Clifton at
7.30 pm (sat
mat 2.30 pm)
Tickets £10
Tues and Sat
mat, £12 Wed
and Thurs, £14 Fri and Sat from
www.bmyp.ticketsource.co.uk
07966 432420
24 Romanoff and Juliet by
Peter Ustinov, rehearsed
reading, Bristol Playgoers Club,
Newman Hall Westbury-on-Trym,
BS9 4DR, 7.20 for 7.30pm
26 - 28 Quartet by Ronald
Harwood, Clevedon Players,
Community Centre, Princes
Road, Clevedon at
7.30 pm Tickets £10
(concessions £8 Thursday)
0781 615 8445
7 - ll South Pacific by
Rodgers and Hammerstein,
St Mary’s Players, Redgrave
Theatre, Clifton at 7.15 pm
(Sat mat 2.15 pm) Tickets
£12.50 0845 5199048 www.
smpmusicaltheatrecompany.
co.uk
14 - 18 The Sorcerer, Bristol
Gilbert and Sullivan
Operatic Group,
Redgrave Theatre,
Clifton BS8 3LE at
7.30 pm (Sat mat
2.30 pm) Tickets
£14 (concessions
£12.50) 0117
9079122 boxoffice@
bristolgsos.co.uk
15 - 18 Witches
of Eastwick, Sodbury Vale
Musical Comedy Club, Town
Hall, Chipping Sodbury, at 7.30
pm (Sat mat 2.30 pm) www.
sodburyvalemusicals.co.uk
16 - 18 The Hollow by Agatha
Christie, Portishead Players,
Somerset Hall, Portishead, at
7.30 pm (Sat mat 2.00 pm) www.
portisheadplayers.org.uk
18 Wessex Division Quarter
Final, AETF, Olympus Theatre,
Filton BS34 7AF Adj Paul Fowler,
GoDA 0117 9247266
APRIL
1 - 4 Sunshine on Leith,
featuring the music of The
Proclaimers, by Stephen
Greenhorn, Northavon
Youth Theatre Company,
Armstrong Hall, Thornbury
at 7.30 pm (Sat mat 2.30 pm)
Tickets £12/£9.50 07980543691
or Wildings, High Street,
Thornbury www.nytc.org.uk
2
Music and
drama diary
16 - 18 The Village Fete by
Peter Tinneswood, Timsbury
Theatre Group, Conygre Hall,
Timsbury at 7.30 pm Tickets £8
concessions £6
[email protected]
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23 - 25 Songs from the Shows
- Life Story, Bath Light Operatic
Group, The Roper Theatre, West
Wing, Bath at 7.30 pm www.
bathlightoperaticgroup.com
29 - May 2 Blithe Spirit
by Noel Coward, Tickenham
Drama Group, Tickenham
Village Hall at 7.30 pm www.
tickenhamdrama.co.uk
[email protected]
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What’s On...
29 - May 2 By Arrangement
with Edward Snape for Fiery
Angel Limited, John Buchan and
Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps
adapted by Patrick Barlow, St
Ursula Players, The Newman Hall,
Grange Court Road, Westburyon-Trym, BS9 4DR 0117 9624431
or 0117 9645940
30 - 2 May Relatively Speaking
by Alan Ayckbourn, St Alban’s
Players, St Alban’s Church Hall,
Bayswater Avenue, Westbury
Park Westbury Park, BS9 7NU
0117 9247266 Tickets £8, patrons
£6, students £5 0117 9247266
www.stalbansplayers.org.uk
12 - 16 Tartuffe by Moliere
(translated by Martin Sorrell)
Kelvin Players
Theatre Company,
Tobacco Factory
Theatre at 8.00 pm
(Sat mat 2.30 pm)
Tickets from April
£14, concessions
£11 (mat £10
concessions
£8) 0117 902
0344 tickets@
tobaccofactory
theatres.com
13 - 16 The
Vicar of
Dibley by kind permission of
Richard Curtis and Tiger Aspect
Productions, Sodbury Players,
Town Hall, Chipping Sodbury at
7.30 pm www.sodburyplayers.
co.uk or 0844 3320230
16 Western Area Semi
Final AETF The Barrington
Theatre,Ferndown, Dorset, BH22
9TN, Adj. Tony Rushforth, GoDA
01454 228243
Music and
drama diary
20 - 23 A Triple Bill Blood
Brothers by Willy Russell, A
Person of No
Consequence by
Margaret Wood,
The Tea Dance by
Margaret Bower,
Backwell Playhouse
Theatre Company,
Backwell Playhouse
at 7.30 pm.
21 - 23
The Hollow by
Agatha Christie,
Actonians, Parish
Hall, Iron Acton at
7.30 pm
www.actonians.co.uk or
07807 547238
JUNE
11 - 13 Cash on Delivery a
farce by Michael Cooney, The
Court Players, The Memorial
Hall, Rangeworthy at 7.30 pm
01454 321149 thecourtplayers@
btinternet.com
MAY
6 - 9 The Rake’s Progress
by Stravinsky, Bristol Opera,
Olympus Theatre, Filton at
7.30pm www.bristolopera.co.uk
6 - 9 Lord Arthur Savile’s
Crime, a play by Constance Cox
based on a short story by Oscar
Wilde, The Argyle Players, Tovey
Hall, Central United Reform
Church, Grove Street, Bath at
7.30 pm 01225 858112
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3
AVON ONE ACT DRAMA FESTIVAL
Chipping Sodbury Town Hall February 18th - 21st
Wednesday
This evening started off with an
original play ‘60 Happy Years’ by
Toby Rome presented by St Paul’s
Players (Southville) which gave us
the setting of a garden at night
with a balloon and light decorated
gazebo and music coming from
the party indoors. The party is one
to celebrate Alice and Charlie’s
60th Wedding Anniversary and Will
has escaped from his wife, Amy’s,
family jollifications for a quiet drink
when he is joined by Beth who
also finds herself out on a limb.
The writer has provided the actors
with natural dialogue and the two
actors, Joe Marsden and Natasha
Finch, responded with natural and
attractive characterisations. One
is able to believe that the words
have just come into their heads. I
was watching this play without a
programme and was therefore a tad
surprised when after a long duologue
they were joined by Amy and then by
the focus of the celebrations, Alice,
and her brother in law David. The
theme of the play is relationships,
how can they be made to work, what
gives them longevity, should we
persevere with them or escape to a
new one. However it also makes the
point that one should not prejudge
older generations - as the answer
they give may surprise you!
the beginning’s use of recordings
and videos rather than speeches to
the audience - but I was sitting right
at the front. Pam Hillier presented
the apparently vulnerable Dawn with
her passion for dance, Janet Williams
was the more reserved Hannah
whose power becomes evident
as the play progresses but Gaye
Shepherd’s creation of Jones an
iconic dominatrix figure who slipped
at the blink of an eye into one of her
three schizophrenic personas, made
her the driving force of the whole
play. If she had lost her footing at
any moment the play would have
gone down with her – however she
didn’t and one can only admire such
ability from one who was both actor
and director.
Thursday
Thursday began with an original play
‘Father and Son’ by Ben Cannon,
performed by The Court Players. A
clever idea with a simple but striking
set. George, an elegant silver-haired
man, is sitting at his desk whilst his
son, Nick, bumbles around the set
sorting out office papers. A play
that focuses on family tensions, on
conflict between the men of two
generations that is exacerbated by
the arrival of a young woman - sister
to one man and daughter to the
other. Mark Gregory as the Father
managed to project a genuine sense
of power and Nick as his less able
son showed both his resentment and
why his father despised him. Eleanor
Trapp as Isabel contributed to the
tension with her two very different
characterisations.
St Paul’s Player’s (Southville) second
entry ‘Jeff Meets The Devil in a
Little Chef’ was a very different
kettle of fish - one that kept boiling
over with plenty of fiery red on the
set and plenty of noise offstage. I
was going to say three characters
with not a redeeming feature
between hem - at least at the
beginning with Sean Colledge as
Jeff, the brash wheeler-dealer of a
banker, Inma De Reyes as Shaniqua
as the waitress we all dread being
served by and Toby Rome as, well,
the Devil. However Shaniqua’s
character develops during the play
and arouses our sympathy whilst
Jeff’s doesn’t - just disintegrates
whilst the Devil just enjoys himself.
A strange, quirky play but one that
stays with you.
‘A Little Box of Oblivion’ by
Stephen Bean performed by Sodbury
Players (below) reminded me of
Parcel by David Campton or perhaps
I have to admit that I looked forward
to the evening’s second production
of John H Newmeir’s ‘Semblance of
Madness’ by Cherry Bakewells with
a certain lack of enthusiasm as like
our adjudicator I had previously seen
a perfectly dreadful performance
and when the synopsis says ‘Three
women meet in a psychiatric
hospital to determine which of them
committed murder some years
prior’ ones heart can sink. However
I will happily eat my words, Cherry
Bakewell’s take on this play was
alive and absorbing - the action
was moved along with conviction by
three remarkably fine actors. I liked
4
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Festivals
The Hole by N F Simpson. However I am always slightly
irritated by playwrights that call their characters Woman,
Cool Guy, Neurotic, Doom Merchant, Amateur Sleuth I’d rather they were called
Man 1, Man 2 etc or just
Fred, Joe etc - and let
me work out what their
characters were. With this
team I would have had
no difficulty - they all
played very recognisable
‘types’ which was what
the play calls for, their
voices contrasted well.
Linda Bowden as Doom
Merchant with her slow,
deep tones was an
excellent cameo and
Richard Cottle as Cool
Guy who by the end lost a certain amount of his cool
had an excellent natural delivery and kept the piece
going at a cracking pace.
Friday
‘Moving Aside’ by Austin Hawkins, Actonians Drama
Group. Ken (Mike Schofield) has not been getting cast in
his Drama Group’s productions, because he is too fond
of a drink. The play is virtually a monologue for Ken, with
the other characters contributing a line here and there. As
Ken, Mike Schofield engaged with the audience and held
their interest throughout the piece. I felt that the problem
with the play is that it is mainly telling the audience what
has been happening; I would prefer to actually see it
happening. The setting was simple but effectively showed
the different locations required. The blackouts between
the scenes were a bit too long and would have benefitted
from a bit of light for the actors to move into place more
easily.
‘Still Thinking’ devised by SPYS (Sodbury Players Youth
Section) Unable to perform their planned production
SPYS gave us a devised piece about the difficulties facing
a Youth Group creating a play for a One Act Festival.
This was very much an ensemble piece with each actor
showing a (hopefully) exaggerated version of themselves.
There were various suggestions for the play; which were
tried and rejected. I particularly liked the slow motion
gunfight and the section in the car – complete with
windscreen wipers. I liked the physicality and energy in
production and thought it was very entertaining.
‘Two Sisters’ by Caroline Harding, St Albans Players
(above) A period piece, set in 1880’s Russia, in the flat of
a poor ‘professional mistress’ with a limp. A coffin has
mysteriously appeared in the flat and she and her married
sister wonder what it can mean, reflecting on the man
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they had both loved who had died 25 years previously.
The set was nicely cluttered with period details and a
lovely coffin. The costumes were good but I felt a little too
pristine for the weather and their
financial state. The start of the play
was a little rushed but settled down
once both actresses were on stage.
They conveyed a sisterly dynamic
well. The downstairs neighbour’s
violin music suited the piece well,
changing to fit the moment of the
moment as requested.
Saturday
Journeyman Theatre Productions
performance of A Single Moment
by Tony Domaille (their director and
for a fleeting moment an actor) was a
thoroughly workmanlike production of
a good script - one that gave the actors plenty to get their
teeth into and the audience an understandable story to follow.
Set in a bookmaker’s shop where Stan, the proprietor, has
seen what gambling can do to his clients and their families,
as the play opens Danny has run out of luck and credit and
is facing the loss of his home and probably his family. All the
characters are firmly based in reality - Danny is an inveterate
gambler but not oblivious to the harm his gambling is doing
to others whilst Nick has a business to run despite his long
established friendship with Danny - and un-noticed in the
corner is Alice, a bag lady who has come in out of the cold.
Not fancy,’ fun’ people but characters both the actors and the
audience can engage with. Three excellent performances
which firmly grabbed our attention and held it to the end.
‘Travels with My Aunt’ has come a long way from Graham
Greene’s one 1960s comic novel, via a 1970s film with Maggie
Smith as Aunt Augusta, and then Giles Havergal’s 1980s
full length play for four male actors to this shortened version
played by 3m 3f and a pianist! for the first time in our festival.
The action moves from suburbia to Brighton, to Paris, to
Istanbul to South America as Henry Pulling an early retired
bank clerk whose gods are respectability and dahlia growing
is dragged off by his septegenarian Aunt Augusta whose idols
are adventure and love. If that seems complicated I’ll add that
Henry Pulling and Aunt Augusta are played by two women
and one man - either singly or in pairs or trios, that no actor
plays less than three parts and one seven – so you will realise
that the audience has to run to keep up! And run we did as
the players changed parts and hats, produced telephones
from suitcases and turned umbrellas into wheels. A complete
delight and a worthy winner.
It was rather a case of ‘follow that! ‘ for Sodbury Players
with their production of The Red Balloon by Damian Trasier
- a three-hander that opens with a girl in a scarlet ballet
dress alone on an empty stage performing dance
movements with a red balloon - a balloon moreover that
has a deep theatrical meaning for this play is a 444
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5
AAD Award for Youth Drama
(Winning youth group)
SPYS (Sodbury Players
Youth Section)
Richard Brayshaw Cup (Technical
award)
Backwell Playhouse
Theatre Co.
nominated: St Paul’s Players
(Jeff Meets...) & St Albans
Players)
The Ruth Perrett Award (Costume) St Alban’s Players
nominated: Cherry Bakewells &
Backwell Playhouse Theatre Co
Sodbury Players’ The Red Balloon.
444 ‘send-up’ of the modernist genre. In fact
they followed it very well as the girl is interrupted
by two loud voices from the audience who leave
their seats and climb on to the platform to join
her. Voices is a key word here - Katie Salt as
the dancer has a well projected and modulated
‘actressy’ voice whilst Carl Ronald as Man has a
strong down to earth voice and Jaqui Coventry
as Woman a delightful, natural voice that is a
pleasure to listen to. This short play brought the
evening and the festival to an excellent finish.
Pauline Pincott Trophy
(Best original play)
nominated: the other entries
Graham Bradshaw Cup (Best
Supporting Perfomrance)
6
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Shelagh Fagan
Journeyman Theatre
Productions nominated:
Eleanor Trapp - The Court
Players
Priory Plate (Best actress)
Gaye Shepherd
Cherry Bakewells
nominated: Natasha Find - St
Pauls Players; Janet Williams &
Pam Hllller - Cherry Bakewells;
Sally Jones & Wendy Withers
- St Alban’s Players; Alison
Riddiford, Colette Buckley
& Helen Coupe - Backwell
Playhouse Theatre Co
Goodway Memorial Cup
(Best actor)
St Alban’s Players with their three trophies
Moving Aside by Austin
Hawkins Actonians
Drama Group
Richard Cottle Sodbury Players
nominated: Mark Gregory - The
Court Players; Toby Rome - St
Pauls Players; Mike Schofield Actonians Drama Group; Mike
Houghton - Backwell Playhouse
Theatre Co
Adjudicator’s Award (Adjudicators
discretion)
St Alban’s Players for
direction and setting
The Peter English Award (Runners
up)
St. Alban’s Players
The Alexander Trophy
Backwell Playhouse
Theatre Co
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Festivals
BRISTOL ONE ACT DRAMA FESTIVAL
The Bristol Festival celebrated its 60th
anniversary in the first week of February,
once again giving us a variety of plays,
including a number of original scripts.
The Festival ran for 5 sessions over 4 days and was
well supported by great audiences. Entries included
three Youth productions, all original pieces, and we
were pleased to welcome four new groups (or groups
who hadn’t participated in the Bristol Festival for
some years) - The Court Players, The Horfield Theatre
Company, Ambigo Productions and Portishead Youth
Players. Adjudicator Chris Jaeger said, in his round-up,
that he was happy to return to Bristol as he so enjoyed
the friendly atmosphere of the Festival
and was particularly struck by the level
of support and the enthusiasm of the
audiences. As 7 of the 13 plays plays
went on to appear at the Avon Festival
in Chipping Sodbury later in February,
they are reviewed under that Festival
report.
The Festival started with an original
play from one of our new groups
- “Landslide” by Craig Malpass
presented by Ambigo Productions.
It’s election night and a landslide
seems on the cards but one of the
winning electoral team is actually a
revolutionary, planning an uprising against the system.
She hides this from her colleague, a keen team player.
It emerges that they are ‘smudgers’, people who dig
up (or invent) dirt on the opposition. As they talk over
things done in order to secure victory and the way
ahead, facts emerge that change both of their views.
The revolutionary reveals she has a bomb but becomes
convinced that setting it off won’t bring change. But her
colleague, hearing how she has been deceived, wants it
all to end. The revolutionary leaves the decision to her
colleague and the play ends on “This is going to hurt”.
An enjoyable, well written, well produced play that
deservedly won 3rd place overall and the Joan Pickthall
Award for the Best Original Play.
Kelvin Players also presented an original play “Make
Yourself Comfortable” by Matthew Rees, an amusing
and interesting piece. The set comprised just a chair
as the whole piece was about the desired possession
of that chair by three characters. The first two have
substantial debate about the chair’s ownership but whilst
they are doing so a third person simply comes and takes
possession, refusing to take any interest in their views possession is all. The three performances were strong,
depicting the ways people can behave toward each
other. It won Dominick Fanning the Best Actor Award
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and Rick Procter the Best Supporting Actor Award.
Horfield Theatre Company gave us “Dig for the
Diggers” by Lynn Brittney, a topical play about the
disastrous Battle of Fromelles in 1916 from an Australian
perspective. The remains of hundreds of soldiers were
found in the area and the play opens in 2010 with
forensic scientists using DNA techniques to identify men
in order to give them a proper funeral with their families
in attendance. There was some lovely acting here
telling the story for one Aussie soldier and the impact
on his family of learning what actually happened. The
Adjudicator would have liked a bigger presentation with
more movement, perhaps using slides as a backdrop.
Each to his own but I have to disagree with the
adjudicator. The quiet presentation had me hanging on
every word and I was glad that there was
no slideshow to distract me. A cracking
performance from Bruce Turnbull as the
soldier.
UWE Drama Society’s entry was a morality
play, “The Game” by Louise Bryant. Life
and Death are rolling dice to see who
‘wins’ those contemplating suicide. Death
is way ahead. Life pleas for the next two
who are a poet and a dancer and the play
debates why they should be saved any
more than any others who have passed
that way. An interesting piece although
I found the blackness of the setting and
costumes dulled the impact.
And there were two excellent entries from Youth Groups.
First was “Eight Fifty” a devised piece from Portishead
Youth Players about the 2007 tube bombings in London.
It started with the large cast, representing the day’s
commuters, waking up as usual and going through
the normal daily routines until 8.50 when the bombs
exploded. It was a short piece and ended rather swiftly
after the explosion; it would have benefitted from a little
more development of the rescue. But their presentation
as they marched around the stage with lights depicting
the people walking to the tube, getting onto the tube
and then passing by various London landmarks was a
wonderful visual piece, making them a worthy winner of
the new award of ‘Best Moment of Theatre’ Award.
The second Youth entry was “Wild Ducks” from Red
Maids’ School. This piece, written by teacher Kate
Markwell, was a wonderful fairy tale involving the King
and Queen and the Queen’s wish for a daughter after 12
sons! Her wish is granted but brings a curse turning all
her sons into ducks that fly away. The story tells how the
princess removes the curse so her brothers can return
home. This was a truly imaginative production involving
acting, singing, dancing, playing instruments and a
lovely tale. The stagecraft was so inventive it was quite
breathtaking. It won the Best Youth award, the Most
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7
Promising Youth award and the Adjudicator’s award for
the marvellous representation of a burning fire licking
at the princess’ feet. Not surprisingly it also scooped
1st Place in the Festival. Other awards were: Second
Place, Best Costume, Best Decor and Audience Award
to St Alban’s Players “Two Sisters” by Caroline Harding
Best Supporting Actress - Katie Salt, Sodbury Players
“The Red Balloon”
At the Wessex Division Quarter Final on Saturday 18
April, St Alban’s excellent ‘Two Sisters’ will be one of
two plays representing Bristol. The second play has
yet to be settled as Amigo Productions, who were our
next placed opting team, unfortunately has withdrawn
from further involvement in the AETF Festival. Do come
along to the Olympus Theatre, Filton, BS34 7AF to see
our plays along with the winners from the Avon and
Somerset Festivals.(in case you are wondering why
Bristol is putting forward two plays this is because the
Wessex Division only has three preliminary rounds so the
festival responsible for organising the Quarter Final in that
year puts forward two plays to make up a foursome.) For
tickets contact Jill Gill on 0117 9247266
Review
Entertaining Angels
by Richard Everett
Portishead Players
Directed by Sandra Branfield
This play is a comedy (Penelope Keith played the
lead in the original production) but there are serious
undertones dealing with adultery, miscarriage,
divorce and deception. The curtain went up on
this Portishead Players production to a round of
applause for the set, which was realistic and very
imaginative. The action takes place in the garden of
the vicarage, where we had the exterior of the house,
a patio and a greenhouse but some of the two hander
scenes take place on the bank of a brook which was
built down stage right, a change in the lighting denoted
this area. Their biggest problem was finding greenery
and flowers in February.
The cast consists of four
women and one man.
Grace, a recently
widowed Vicars wife is
trying to come to terms
with the death of Barty
and having to move to
make place for the new
incumbent, who to every
ones surprise is a women,
Sarah. Her daughter Jo
a psychotherapist and
her barmy sister Ruth a
missionary in Uganda
8
And the wonderful “Wild Ducks” (pictured) is representing
Bristol at the Five Counties Youth Drama Festival on
Saturday 25 April at Iron Acton Village Hall. For tickets
contact Ann Aplin on 01454 228243.
Gillian Lewisohn
are staying with
her. The ghost
of Barty appears
only to her in the
greenhouse and
on the bank of the
brook where he
died. Throughout
the play secrets
are revealed but
the most dramatic
being that Ruth
had a fling with
Barty thirty years
ago and has a son in Africa, Jeremy. However by the
end of the play all their differences are reconciled, Sarah
is pregnant and settled in at the vicarage, Grace says
goodbye to Barty and they are all off to meet Jeremy at
the airport.
Wendy Walmsley as Grace had
good comic timing and in contrast
portrayed the emotional scenes
with Barty with sensitivity. Alison
Louwers was suitably eccentric as
Ruth, Jenny Lake made Jo a very
strong character, Celia Roberts was
a charming young vicar, Colin Astley
portrayed Barty as a very gentle man.
Despite many of the scenes being
duologues this did not detract from
the pace of the production, the
players interacted well together, there
were strong performances and good
team work.
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THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
Focus
The Kingswood Players
over the last two weekends
in January presented six
performances of “Robin
Hood and the Babes in
the Wood”. However,
on the second Saturday
an unexpected drama
unfolded when cast
member Rachel Mulcahy
was taken ill after the
matinee and was unable
to appear in the evening
show.
In the best theatrical tradition
it was decided that the show
must go on, and a member of
Fairy Flower (Jo Anyon) and the replacement Fairy Weed (Emma Bye)
the group, who had not been
involved in any of the rehearsals
more well known authors. One recent highlight of
for this production, took on the
which we are very proud was our 2012 production
role of the evil Fairy Weed. Emma Bye was only
of Calendar Girls, which was one of the first in the
there to help front of house when she suddenly had
Bristol area following the release of the performing
to step in. Within the space of one hour she had a
rights to amateur groups. We not only produced
quick rehearsal of her lines while wardrobe ladies
our own calendar and raised £2012 for Leukaemia &
Kate Bond and Sue Williams did some “magic”
Lymphoma Research, but we were live on the BBC’s
adjustments to the costume, and then it was curtain
One Show and got a mention on the Chris Evans’
up and she was on! The show went successfully and
Breakfast Show!
the audience enjoyment was not at all diminished
by the last minute cast change. Thankfully Rachel is
We also have a long history of traditional pantomimes
now on the road to recovery and will be back with the suitable for all the family, with our very own Dame,
group soon.
Richard Bond. Another favourite with audiences is
The Kingswood Players have been in existence since
1980 and are one of Bristol’s most established and
best known amateur drama groups. We put on
three productions a year, including many plays, some
written by members of the group, and others by
our Music Hall shows, evoking the same attention
to detail and atmosphere as “The Good Old Days”
which used to be on television. We have in the
past taken these shows “on the road”, and have
performed at the Landmark Pavilion in Ilfracombe,
on board The SS Great Britain and at various nursing
homes and other venues nearer home.
Our next production will be a “Murder,
Mystery & Music” event on Saturday 16th
May at 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. at Holy
Trinity Church Hall, Kingswood.
For tickets contact our box office:
0777 205 6562 or visit our website:
www.kingswoodplayers.org
Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood
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9
Competition Need to know
2015 Playwriting
Competition
We are thrilled to be able to bring you
news of our 2015 Playwriting Competition.
This year we’re looking for plays written
specifically for young people and we have
two categories that you can enter. One
Act Plays and Full Length Plays.
Anything goes with regards to content, themes and genre
of the play and we’re looking for entries that are as daring
as they are creative. Roister Doister is committed to
nurturing talent so entry to our competition is completely
free! If you’re not interested in this competition but know
someone who would be then please forward this email on
to them. If you have any questions or would like to know
more then please just visit our website.
First Prize for
Full Length Play Category
First Prize for
One Act Play Category
Contributions to...
[email protected]
PROMPT, The Clove Hitch
Iron Acton, BS37 9UG
5 year publishing contract.
£100 Sales Advance.
AAD Membership
Rehearsed reading of your play.
Runners-Up
The top 5 runners-up in each category will have their
plays publishing in a compendium of plays from the
competition along with the winning play. Runners-up
will also be invited to the rehearsed readings of the
plays.
We’ve already started receiving submissions for the
competition but don’t worry. You have plenty of time
to get your entry in.
10
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Sue Jeffery 01275 372174
[email protected]
Edwina Lloyd 0117 962 8394
[email protected]
Joan Pickthall 0117 9622947
Marie O’Sullivan 01179624431
[email protected]
Christine Sargent 0117 9772882
[email protected]
Festival Secretary - Janet Adams
[email protected]
Rosie Jenkins, Joan Pickthall,
Ann Aplin, Daniel Penfold
(design and development)
Rehearsed reading of your play.
www.roisterdoister.com
Committee
Prompt team
£150 Sales Advance.
Please do visit our website for more details.
Good Luck!
Chairman - Ann Aplin
01454 228243
[email protected]
Vice-Chairs Sally Noble 0117 9628018
Jenny McDowell 0117 971 2451
[email protected]
Treasurer Rosie Jenkins 0117 9506807
[email protected]
Minutes Secretary - Jenny Mcdowell
0117 9712451
[email protected]
Webmaster - Ray Bulmer
[email protected]
5 Year publishing contract.
The deadline is midnight, 3rd July 2015.
AAD
April 2014 to March 2015
Group - £25.00 p.a.
Youth Groups (non-affiliated) - £10
Individual - £12.00 p.a.
£17.00 for hard copy Prompt
Prompt Advertising Rates
(payable in advance excluding artwork)
Full Page £250 (yearly)
£30 (single)
Half Page £180 (yearly)
£20 (single)
Quarter Page £90 (yearly)
£10 (single)
DEADLINE for APRIL 2015 ISSUE is
30th MARCH 2015
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama
News
OUT AND ABOUT
IN BATH
Theatre Bath is presenting two workshops. They each
cover an area which many of us lack confidence and
knowledge.
The first on Tuesday March 10th 7.00pm - 9.00pm is
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE ARTS with Imogen Woodford.
This is a practical hands-on workshop which will inspire,
encourage and guide anyone with the responsibility of
maintaining the social media profiles for their company
or organisation. With useful hints and tips on time
management, interaction and engagement you will learn
how to create a strong impression and a memorable
presence. Perfect for complete novices and seasoned
social media users the workshop will include looking at
FACEBOOK, TWITTER and INSTAGRAM. You are asked
to bring laptops, tablets and smartphones with you as
it will include practical demonstrations. It will be held
in The Lonsdown Room, The Bath Royal Literary and
Scientific Institution , 16-18 Queen Square,Bath BA1
2HN Tickets £11.25 on the Theatre Bath website.
The second is AN INTRODUCTION TO UNARMED
STAGE COMBAT with Tom Jordan This is a two hour
workshop on Tuesday March 31st from 7.00 pm - 9.00
pm at the Natural Theatre Company Studio, Widcombe
Hill, Bath BA2 6AA Tickets £13.37 Tom is a professional
Fight Choreographer and Stage Combat Instructor, who
works for, amongst others, the RSC, Guildford School
of Acting and the University of Gloucestershire. ‘Across
two hours, we will go over the basics of unarmed
combat; including slaps, punches and hair pulling. we’ll
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look at physicality of the fighter, reaction and how best
to work safely as a team with your opponent.Bring
sensible clothing you can move easily in and bring a
bottle of water’.
IN THORNBURY
The Area Premiere of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ is presented
by fifty young people in the North Avon Youth
Theatre Company.
The musical is set North of the Border, to Scotland
and in particular to Leith, a suburb of Edinburgh and
home of the twins Craig and Charlie Reid, otherwise
known as The Proclaimers!
Stephen Greenhorn has woven 18 of their songs
into an amazing musical around the story of two
young soldiers, Ally and Davy who are in patrol in
Afghanistan but encounter an enemy ambush and not
long after decide to leave the Army and return home
to sunny Leith!
Interwoven with the story are such catchy tunes
as ‘Over and Done With and Throw the ‘R’ Away,
beautiful Celtic ballads like Misty Blue, poignant
songs like Oh Jean, Letter from America and of
course the show stopper I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)!
For booking details see What’s On on page 2.
[email protected]
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11
AVON ASSOCIATION OF DRAMA
GROUP MEMBERS:
ACTONIANS
IRON ACTON
ARGYLE PLAYERS
BATH
BACKWELL DRAMA CLUB
BACKWELL
BACKWELL PLAYHOUSE
BACKWELL
BRISTOL FILM & VIDEO SOCIETY
FILTON
BRISTOL GILBERT & SULLIVAN OPERATIC SOCIETY
BRISTOL
BATH LIGHT OPERATIC GROUP
BATH
BRISTOL OPERA
BRISTOL
BRISTOL PLAYGOERS CLUB
HENLEAZE
BRISTOL MUSICAL YOUTH PRODUCTIONS
BRISTOL
CLEVEDON PLAYERS
CLEVEDON
C.A.D.S.
CLIFTON
THE COURT PLAYERS
RANGEWORTHY
THE ECUMANIAC’S PANTOMIME GROUP
HENGROVE
FAILAND DRAMA CIRCLE
FAILAND
HORFIELD THEATRE COMPANY
HORFIELD
HUTTON DRAMA GROUP
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
KELVIN PLAYERS
BISHOPSTON
KEYNSHAM LIGHT OPERA GROUP
KEYNSHAM
KINGSWOOD PLAYERS
KINGSWOOD
NORTHAVON YOUTH THEATRE COMPANY
THORNBURY
OLDLAND PLAYERS
OLDLAND COMMON
PORTISHEAD PLAYERS
PORTISHEAD
SHIPHAM PLAYERS
SHIPHAM
SHOOTING STARS YOUTH THEATRE COMPANY
YATE
SODBURY PLAYERS
CHIPPING SODBURY
SODBURY VALE MUSICAL COMEDY
YATE
ST.ALBAN’S PLAYERS
WESTBURY PARK
ST.ANNE’S PLAYERS
BRISLINGTON
ST.LUKE’S CHURCH PLAYERS
BRISLINGTON
ST.MARY’S PLAYERS
STAPLE HILL
ST.PAUL’S PLAYERS
SOUTHVILLE
ST.URSULA PLAYERS
HENLEAZE
TICKENHAM DRAMA GROUP
TICKENHAM
THORNBURY MUSICAL THEATRE GROUP
THORNBURY
TIMSBURY THEATRE GROUP
TIMSBURY
WINTERBOURNE PLAYERS
WINTERBOURNE
WOODLAND PLAYERS
KINGSWOOD
DETAILS OF MEMBER GROUPS CAN BE FOUND VIA THE AAD WEBSITE.
12
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[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama