1. art and entertainment
2. theatre

Prompt April '15
magazine
SPRING NEWS
This is an incredibly busy time of year
for many of us, spring productions
in rehearsal or nearing performance,
AETF Festivals moving up through
quarter finals, semi finals, to English
Final and eventually the British Final.
Another rather special
festival is the Five
EX DIVISION
Counties Youth Drama
WESTERN AREA – WESS
QUARTER FINAL
Festival which this
IL 2015
year is being held at
SATURDAY 18 APR
e
Iron Acton Parish Hall
The Olympus Theatr
on April 25th - very
much a celebration of
the marvellous work
produced by youth
teams - no ‘best
actor’’ best actress’
trophies just The
Mike Bishop Trophy
and a chance for all
teams to share in each others’ work. Mike
Bishop was a memorable figure at The Cotswold
Playhouse and it is sad to report the death of
another memorable figure, Joan Pickthall, a
dear friend, AAD Committee member and a
friend to festivals - both the Bristol and the
Avon Festivals treasure trophies in her name.
By now companies and individual members will
have received your membership renewal form.
Companies, do get it to your treasurer as soon
as possible and make sure your recipients’ email
addresses are up to date. Rosie Jenkins, our
Treasurer and Membership Secretary, has many
excellent qualities but she is not psychic and
won’t know they have changed unless you tell
her! Ann
de competitive drama
England’s only countrywi
festival for one-act plays
r GODA
Adjudicator : Paul Fowle
th
Kindly sponsored by Hanha
m Court Gardens
The WISE Campus
and Stroud College)
(South Gloucestershire
Bristol BS34 8LP
New Road, Stoke Gifford,
2.00pm
Afternoon Session :
RED MAIDS’ SCHOO
L
ell
Wild Ducks by Kate Markw
THEAT
TORQUAY LITTLE
I'd Like To Believe In
RE COMPANY
Angels by Jefrey G. Pirie
Evening Session : 7.00pm
OUSE THEAT
BACKWELL PLAYH
RE COMPANY
by Graham Greene,
Travels With My Aunt
al
adapted by Giles Haverg
ST ALBAN’S PLAYE
RS
e Harding
Two Sisters by Carolin
Tickets
£14 for
: £8 per session or
both from competing
or call Jill Gill on 0117
groups
924 7266
Music and drama diary Reviews: Inspired by...
and Inspiring Shakespeare Remembering Joan Pickthall
Costume Drawing workshop p2
p4
p5
p6
Joan Pickthall
Focus:
Kelvin Players Tartuffe
He Said What?!
News: Out and About
List of AAD drama groups p7
p8
p9
p10
www.avondrama.org.uk [email protected]
Find us on Facebook “Avon Association of Drama” Follow us on Twitter @avondrama
1
What’s On...
APRIL
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
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
29 - May 2 Blithe Spirit
by Noel Coward, Tickenham
Drama Group, Tickenham
Village Hall at 7.30 pm www.
tickenhamdrama.co.uk
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,
Westbury-on-Trym,
BS9 4DR 0117
9624431 or 0117
9645940
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
16 - 18 The Village Fete
by Peter Tinneswood,
Timsbury Theatre Group,
Conygre Hall, Timsbury
at 7.30 pm Tickets £8
concessions £6
[email protected]
18 Wessex Division
Quarter Final, AETF,
Olympus Theatre, Filton
BS34 7AF Adj Paul
Fowler, GoDA
0117 9247266
2
Music and
drama diary
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
30 A New Musical Comedy
The Pier (by Paul Carroll &
starring Jane Gilchrist, winner of
Operatunity) 7.30pm Thurs - Sat
30 April - 2 May 2015 Princes
Hall, Princes Rd, Clevedon BS21
7SZ Tickets: £10 (concessions &
all tickets Thurs £8) from: 01275873405 www.paulvcarroll.co.uk
England’s only countrywide competitive drama festival for one-act plays
WESTERN AREA – WESSEX DIVISION
QUARTER FINAL
Adjudicator : Paul Fowler GODA
SATURDAY 18th APRIL 2015
Kindly sponsored by Hanham Court Gardens
The Olympus Theatre
The WISE Campus
(South Gloucestershire and Stroud College)
New Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8LP
Afternoon Session : 2.00pm
RED MAIDS’ SCHOOL
Wild Ducks by Kate Markwell
TORQUAY LITTLE THEATRE COMPANY
I'd Like To Believe In Angels by Jefrey G. Pirie
Evening Session : 7.00pm
BACKWELL PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY
Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene,
adapted by Giles Havergal
ST ALBAN’S PLAYERS
Two Sisters by Caroline Harding
Tickets
: £8 per session or £14 for both from competing groups
or call Jill Gill on 0117 924 7266
www.avondrama.org.uk
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama
What’s On...
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
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
14 - 16 Miss Glossop Comes to
Tea A ‘who dunnit’ with nibbles
by Stuart Ardern, Winterbourne
Players, Winterbourne
Community Hall, Watleys’s
End Road, Winterbourne,
BS36 1QG at 8.00 pm Tickets
£8 07899 808943 or www.
winterbourneplayers.co.uk
16 WESTERN AREA AETF SEMIFINAL, Barrington Theatre,
Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9TH Adj
Tony Rushforth,
GoDA. 01454
228243
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 Pilgrim a musical
play by Tony Williams,
St Luke’s Church
Players, St Luke’s
Church Hall, Church
Parade, Brislington
at 7.30 pm Tickets
£7 (children under 12
£4.50) 0117 9711339
or 07503929996
21 - 23
The Hollow by Agatha
Christie, Actonians,
Parish Hall, Iron Acton
at 7.30 pm www.
actonians.co.uk or
07807 547238
JUNE
16 Murder, Mystery and Music
5 - 6 Life is a Cabaret Thornbury
Musical Theatre Group, Armstrong
Hall, Thornbury at 7.30 pm
Kingswood Players, Holy Trinity
Church Hall, at 2.30 pm and 7.30
pm Afternoon teas sold at 2.30
pm BYO - drinks, nibbles, suppers
at 7.30 pm 0777 2056562 www.
kingswoodplayers.org
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
featuring the Hadleigh Hall
Inheritance by Joe Biggs , The
www.avondrama.org.uk
[email protected]
Music and
drama diary
19 20 Playing Away, by Janet
Shaw, A Stagescript Production,
Hutton Drama Club, Hutton Village
Hall, Church Lane, Hutton, BS24
9SN
23 - 30 Costume,
Scenic Art, Theatre
Design, showcases work
of next generation of
talented students from
Bristol Old Vic Theatre
School, Royal West
of England Academy,
Queens Road, Clifton,
BS8 1PX Tues - Sat 10
am - 6 pm,
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
JULY
9 - 11 Hairspray , Book Mark
0’Donnell and Thomas Meehan,
Music Marc
Shaiman,
Lyrics Scott
Whittman
and Marc
Shaiman,
Shooting
Stars
Theatre
Company,
Chipping
Sodbury
Town Hall, at
7.30 pm (sat
mat 2.30pm)
Tickets
£8.00 www.
ticketsource.
co.uk/
shooting stars or 0778 3869087
18 & 19 Grease by Jim Jacobs
and Warren Casey SPYS (Sodbury
Players Youth Section) Chipping
Sodbury Town Hall, Sat 2.30 pm
and 7.30 pm Sun 2.30 pm
www.sodburyplayers.co.uk or
0844 3320230
twitter: @avondrama
3
Reviews
INSPIRED BY
SHAKESPEARE AT THE
REDGRAVE
INSPIRING
SHAKESPEARE AT THE
TOBACCO FACTORY
‘West Side Story’ Bristol Musical Youth
Production Saturday 28th March
‘Romeo and Juliet’ SATTF - Friday 27th March
This wonderfully exciting show, with music
by Leonard Bernstein, libretto by Stephen
Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, was
given a vibrant and energetic production by
this young company. Under the experienced
guidance of Director and Choreographer,
Vicki Klein, we were treated to ensemble
work of the highest standard with exuberant
performances from the entire company.
Set in the Upper West Side neighbourhood of New
York in the mid 1950s, the story line concerns the
rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks - two gangs
from differing ethnic backgrounds. A dark theme with
sophisticated music, extended dance sequences and
many memorable songs - ‘Maria’, ‘Something’s Coming’,
‘America’ and of course the complete show stopper
‘Officer Krupke’.
The company were fortunate in having four highly
competent young performers in the lead roles, with
Sophie Thorne making a delightful ‘Maria’, well matched
by Tom Royal as ‘Tony’. In the Shark’s gang, Joe Hagan
as ‘Bernardino’ certainly added an air of menace, with
Sophie Scroggs giving an
excellent interpretation of
‘Anita’.
Meanwhile on the other side of town Polina Kalinina’s
production of Shakespeare’s tragedy was set in the
following decade and the emphasis
was very much on youth, on its
intensity, speed, recklessness and at
times violence. The set consisted of
a children’s playground roundabout
which was torn apart to provide
the most terrifying weapons for
the fights and as a base for their
marriage bed and final resting
place in the tomb. Audiences are
perhaps used to Romeo and Juliet
being young but not to Lady Capulet and the Nurse which of course they should be. Dressed in mini-skirts,
trousers and even a shortie nightdress and hair rollers this
made us look at them in a different way. More traditional
‘period’ costumes hide youth as well as legs. This was
once again an ensemble production held together by
older SATTF stalwarts such as Alan Coveney as the Prince
and Paul Currier as Friar Laurence whilst Jack Wharrier
as Paris brought what is often an unrewarding part very
sympathetically to life and Paapa Essiedu shone like
a bright star as Romeo convincing at all times and with
Shakespeare’s words effortlessly spoken with intellectual
and vocal clarity.
The presentation was certainly
enhanced by an atmospheric
setting and extremely well
supported by a live orchestra
under the direction of Kerrie
Duce. We go to BMYP
productions expecting a very
high standard of performance
and that is exactly what we had,
with a well deserved standing
ovation as the curtain came
down.
4
www.avondrama.org.uk
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama
Remembrance
Joan Pickthall 1920 - 2015
To many people the
picture of Joan Pickthall
in one of her rare
stage appearances
as Lady Bracknell in a
St Peter’s (Henleaze)
Dramatic Society, 1973,
production might have
been the impression
they had of her. An
imposing figure,
seemingly stern,and
rather fearsome.
Those people did not know her
very well! For she was, although
she would probably not thank
me for saying it, a dear, generous, kind hearted
lady who revelled, on occasions, in a grand dame
approach to dealing with some of the issues that
confronted her..
To have a glimpse of the real Joan look back to the
October 2014 edition of Prompt in which she gives
her own account of her early years including that of
her school drama teacher who noted that she had
a certain dramatic talent, also that she was bossy
and independent.
She might have gone to Theatre School, she did
however go to Palestine during the war serving as
a Court Writer in the Judge Advocates Branch but
didn’t like the services especially being bossed
around by ‘a pack of disappointed women’. Her
words!
Married in Jerusalem and honeymooning in
Alexandria she returned to Britain and ran the first
fashion modelling school in Edinburgh. Returning
to England, a single parent with five children (four
sons, Brian, Mike, Peter and Iain and daughter
Pamela). She and her family lived with her parents
in Henleaze working as a church secretary for the
clergy at St Peter’s until her retirement.
www.avondrama.org.uk
Joan was born in November 1919 and was a
founder member of St Peter’s (Henleaze) Dramatic
Society in the mid 1950s, a company that she
ran until shortly before the Millennium serving
as director, actor and secretary for that whole
period. She was a local drama teacher for various
Townswomen’s Guild groups and served on the
county’s Avon Association of Drama committee
continuously from its inception in 1974 up to her
death.
For the All England Bristol One Act Play Festival,
Joan served as Secretary for over a quarter of
a century, also being Chairman of the Central
Divisional Committee covering this immediate
part of the South West and secretary of the All
England competition travelling all over the country
in covering these duties.
In Joan’s own words, as expressed in the October
2014 ‘Memory Feature’ in Prompt; “Thank you all
who have brought me some sad, some happy and
some exciting times – and some dull times too!”
To which we might add. Thank you Joan for
everything you gave to us – with never a dull
moment as far as you were concerned!!
Richard Jones
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama
5
JOAN PICKTHALL in NODA
(Joan was well-known outside our area through her work with
NODA as is shown in this piece written in 2003)
I was privileged to meet Joan soon after I was appointed as
Chief Executive of NODA in London in January 1993. At that
time the Association ran three Summer Schools. The Operatic
Summer School was the longest established, run each year at
Ripon and was organised by a very insular Committee, on which
I was appointed to represent the NODA Council. The Technical
Summer School was held in Winchester and run by two Southern
Area Councillors. The Drama Summer School was run by ‘the
Joans’, two hugely efficient and dedicated ladies who had built
a marvellous School at Bristol University every summer for those
dedicated drama group members, who didn’t want to burst into
song and dance.
From the outset I was impressed by the calm efficiency of both
Joan Pickthall and Joan Wetherley, her ‘partner in crime’ . Of
all three Schools they were the most understanding of the need
for the Association to ‘take back’ the organisation of its Summer Schools to combine them under one Committee. They
impressed me hugely with the quiet efficient way in which they
maintained the desired direction of the school, focussed on the
drama element of amateur theatre, for which it had been created. They fiercely fought suggestions that it should be ‘watered
down’ with lighter fare, though on occasions musicals based on
classics such as My Fair Lady and Pygmalion and Kiss Me Kate
and The Taming of the Shrew, were offered for study ‘in tandem’
during the hard-working and intense week of study during August each year.
Working alongside Joan in a very peripheral role, my admiration
of her knowledge, dedication and capabilities remains vividly
with me ten years after.
Mark Thorburn, Former Chief Executive, NODA
COSTUME DRAWING WORKSHOP
Places are available on this one-day
workshop which will explore the
art of creative theatrical costume
and character drawing, coinciding
with the Costume, Scenic Art,
Theatre Design at the Royal West of
England Academy. The model will
pose in different costumes in the
morning and afternoon, allowing
students time to study the detail
and capture the mood using a
variety of different mediums. This
workshop is suitable for all abilities.
Materials will be provided for this
course
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]
Committee
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]
Webmaster - Ray Bulmer
[email protected]
Prompt team
Rosie Jenkins, Joan Pickthall,
Ann Aplin, Daniel Penfold
(design and development)
Contributions to...
[email protected]
PROMPT, The Clove Hitch
Iron Acton, BS37 9UG
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
Royal West of England Academy Queen’s Road,
Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PX 0117 9067606
www.drawingschool.org.uk COST £50
www.avondrama.org.uk
AAD
AAD Membership
Saturday 27th June 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
TUTOR Sarah Easby
6
Need to know
(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 MAY 2015 ISSUE is
1st May 2015
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama
Kelvin Players TARTUFFE
at the Factory Theatre, 12 – 16 May
The play tells the story of a wealthy family infiltrated by
the apparently pious and devout Tartuffe. He is invited
into the household by Orgon, the patriarch of the
family, blinded by Tartuffe’s manipulative ways. Whilst
disrupting the lives of his hosts he plots to acquire
everything Orgon holds dear, including his wife.
Modern audiences will experience a cautionary tale, just
as valid now as when it was written 350 years ago; there
will always be those intent on displaying their mask of
authority and wisdom in order to cover their deception.
How did we manage to get a place in Tobacco Factory
Theatres’ busy schedule on the main stage? As well
as our well-regarded reputation the simple answer is
determination. We started negotiating with the Tobacco
Factory about two years ago and suggested plays that
would work with their programme and audience profile.
An initial shortlist of six became two, being Tartuffe and
Rupert Goold’s Faustus. Unusually for Kelvin directors
in the club were invited to put in proposals for each play
and then pitch to direct (rather than propose and pitch
a play of their own choosing). I was lucky enough to be
asked to direct Tartuffe.
Bringing a production to the main Factory Theatre
is significant for a non-professional company and
confirms our place in the landscape of Bristol theatre.
It also provides Kelvin with the opportunity to play to
larger audiences – our Studio is a very flexible 80 to
90 seat theatre space with limited lighting and sound
capabilities – in a state of the art theatre.
There are challenges of doing a play at any theatre,
especially if it is not your ‘home ‘. The Factory Theatre,
and my decision to perform the play in the round,
means we have to tackle a different theatre space with
different technical equipment in a space with pillars on
set and an audience seated all around.
www.avondrama.org.uk
Focus
As all directors throughout the Avon area and beyond
will tell you, directing is a most rewarding experience,
especially if you like problem solving. Pulling a
production team together with a shared goal, then
developing a technical team with the skills and
imagination to convert ideas into a believable theatre
space that will enhance and support the play is the type
of challenge Kelvin thrives on.
We would like audience members to leave the theatre
talking about Tartuffe and its meaning as well as its
place as a great piece of theatre. As well as encouraging
people to come to our own future production at our
Gloucester Road studio, in a wider context we’d like to
show the depth of talent of amateur theatre in Bristol
and the Avon area.
Ralf Togneri
Director
On doit se regarder soi-meme
un fort long temps.
Avant que de songer a condamner
les gens.
We should look long and carefully
at ourselves before
we pass judgement on others.
[email protected]
Moliere 1622 - 1673
twitter: @avondrama
7
HE SAID
WHAT?!
A few years ago I contributed an article for
‘Prompt’ containing light hearted (and I thought
funny!) comments heard over my now twenty five
plus years in the world of amateur drama. Most ( but
not all) of them were connected with my position
‘in the costume department’. Here are a few more,
some from my own group, St Luke’s Church Players
based in Brislington, some of other groups I been
told about. All actual names ( apart from my own)
have been changed!
Whilst trying on hats for his costume a teenage boy said ‘Don’t
mess my hair up , I might meet a young lady on the way home’.
A director, enquiring to the assembled cast at the start of an
evening’s rehearsal, ‘And where are Kylie and Amy?’, (teenage
girls) to which a voice at the back replied, ‘Probably sleeping’.
Whilst sorting out costumes for a funeral scene an actress said,
‘Sorry, but black drains me’.
‘I don’t mind what I wear so long as you don’t make me look fat’
( From a lovely lady - size 26!)
A female audience member after a performance commented on
two young men in the cast ‘Gavin is beautiful, but Scott has sexual
charisma’
A cast member dared another to wear the wrong hat for a particular
scene to which he replied, ‘No I wouldn’t dare upset Jonathan , the
sartorial Nazi!’
We would probably like to think in the world of professional theatre
people are, well, more professional, but maybe not. My brother
studied stage design at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and was
later Head of Design for many years, and then worked at the R.S.C
in Stratford upon Avon. The following two stories come from him.
After presenting the costume designs for a production of
‘Antony and Cleopatra’, a well known TV, film and stage actress said
’Oh no, I don’t like those, I ‘ll wear something from home’
Another very well known ginger haired actor refused to wear the
colour green!
As they say of many true stories – you couldn’t make it up!
Jonathan Rowe
8
www.avondrama.org.uk
LITTLE
THINGS
MEAN A
LOT!
Watching the plays at the
One Act Festival has led me
to ponder on the little details
that ‘bug’ me and take me
out of the performances. I
suppose it’s just the way I am
or the influences on me; but
if a little detail doesn’t seem
right I worry about it. Some
examples...
A character enters in outdoor
clothes, talking about how bad the
rain is .... and they are bone dry. I’m
not asking for a bucket of water to
be poured over the actor, but a few
squirts with a plant sprayer and a
damp hem on a long skirt would
show the rain.
A lovely fresh ironed skirt, that
doesn’t even look like it has been sat
in, on someone who’s probably been
wearing it all day and working in it.
Ignoring things that you’d do
something about in ‘real life’ - a
character falls and gets some dirt
on their trousers and just ignores it.
You’d have a go at brushing it off in
‘life’ so why ignore it on the stage?
I’m sitting there thinking ‘Why aren’t
you trying to get that mark off?
Something falls on the floor, people
walk around it ignoring it - I’m
screaming ‘Pick it up!’ (inside my
head obviously or I’d be thrown
out!)
It’s not just the amateur theatre
where this happens. I have sat in
the Hippodrome thinking ‘Those
poor beggars are far too clean and
tidy’. J.A.
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama
News
OUT AND ABOUT
IN CLEVEDON
Paul Carroll has written a new musical comedy based
around Clevedon’s famous PIER. This is a whimsical
story about people, and their lives and relationships,
before THE PIER was built; as THE PIER was being built;
when part of THE PIER fell down; as it was rebuilt and,
finally, when it lies 33 m below sea level and is only
visited by divers! The writer’s wife Jane Gilchrist, winner
of Operatunity stars in the musical and Paul says ‘In
the same way that the film Titanic is really a love story
while a boat is busy sinking in the background, this is a
character and comedy-driven story about people with a
‘Traumatic Pier in the background’
For details see What’s On
IN BRISLINGTON
Tony Williams, a member of St Luke’s Church Players,
has written a musical play about a pub, THE PILGRIM
. This tells the story of the lives and loves of the
regulars of The Pilgrim , a fictionalised version of the
real pub in Hollywood Road, Brislington and celebrates
that fast disappearing British tradition - the local
pub. It features the great music of 1976 and includes
songs from The Bee Gees, Elton John, The Wurzels,
Brotherhood of Man, Rod Stewart, Demis Roussos and
of course Abba!
IN WOKING
The 42nd British All Winners Drama Festival run by
NDFA is being held at The Rhoda McGaw Theatre
from Sunday 19th to Saturday 25th July, Adjudicator
Paul Fowler, GoDA. Drama Groups that have won Full
Length or One Act Member Festivals (Avon Festival
is one) between 9th June 2014 and 7th June 2015
are eligible for invitation to take part in the 2015 ‘All
Winners Festival’ and the Selection Meeting to decide
www.avondrama.org.uk
on the plays and groups to be invited is scheduled for
Sunday 14th June. NDFA have also good news about
THE GEORGE TAYLOR MEMORIAL AWARD . The
cash prize for this one-act playwriting competition was
originally provided by Amateur Stage, because it was
named after the magazine’s founder. Unfortunately
in recent years this sponsorship has dried up as the
fortunes of Amateur Stage have waned. However
NDFA and Stagescripts Limited have announced their
intention to collaborate in the development of an
enhanced award, which will provide a £250 cash prize
and a platform for publishing and rights management
for the winner.
IN BATH
Theatre Bath announces two Workshops. Ed Browning
from BBC’s Poldark is running an AUDITION SKILLS
WORKSHOP on Tuesday April 14th 7.00 - 9.00 pm. This
workshop looks at the practicalities of auditions. In the
end, like any job interview, you can never guarantee an
outcome but with the right preparation and skills you
can be sure you present yourself in the best possible
light to let your talent shine through. We go through
all different audition scenarios and go through all the
necessary preparation you should make beforehand.
Andy Burden is running a NATURAL THEATRE
COMPANY STREET THEATRE WORKSHOP on Monday
April 27th 7.00 to 9.00 pm. Explore the depths of
inspiration, imagination and ummm..perspiration that
help create some of their most famous characters and
sketches. Discover how they create their scenarios
from ideas to performance and get the opportunity, for
one night only, to become a natural Theatre Company
performer, donning one of their famous costumes ad
learning the skills needed to perform street theatre.
Both of these workshops cost £11.25 and can be
booked through Theatre Bath website.
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama
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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.
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www.avondrama.org.uk
[email protected]
twitter: @avondrama