sceneAutumn 2016

Youth Final

The magazine of Scottish Community Drama SCDA Merchandise A range of merchandise is available with all profits from this venture being donated to SCDA. The range of garments are navy blue colour with gold and light blue embroidery of the SCDA logo. Also available in Fushia Pink. Polo Shirts size XS to XXL £15 Sweatshirts size S to XXL £15 Full Zip or Pullover Hoodies S to XL £20 Garments can be personalised with club name or Individual name. Other sizes quoted for on request. To order please contact:- [email protected] or enquire at Head Office for further details. Our Ebay shop scda12 sells pens, bags, mouse mats and other items. Mouse Mats, Jute Bags and SCDA logo pens are available from Head Office SCENE No. 152 Chairman’s Scottish Charity No. 021397 Retail price for non-members - £4 Chat NATIONAL OFFICE So google maps said 6 Suite 88, Stirling Enterprise Park, Springkerse, hours to Cardiff - and 9 Stirling, FK7 7RP phone: 01786 440077 hours later I made it to National Administrator e-mail: the theatre with 5 [email protected] minutes to spare! National Drama Advisor email : [email protected] However, I made it in www.scda.org.uk time to see the brilliant OFFICE OPENING HOURS winning play from our friends at DAW, who Our staff work flexible hours but the national JUST pipped our own administrator’s normal office hours are Tues-Thurs Studio Theatre Group 8am-3.30pm, so please leave a message and into a very close 2nd someone will get back to you as soon as possible. place, with their own Copy date for next edition : 24th September terrific performance. Future Copy Dates: 3rd December Editorial Statement: It was a privilege to be at the British Finals to represent The editorial committee reserve the right not to SCDA, from where I took home the best wishes of all the print everything that is submitted for Scene. other countries back to pass on to you. I was also very Please email articles to Scene Editor : proud to announce the Geoffrey Whitworth winners, and our [email protected] very own Isabella C Rae as runner up. Well done Isabella, your commitment and that of your club to SCDA is greatly Printed by acknowledged. Monument Press, 42 Abbey Road, Stirling FK8 1LP Phone : 01786 474763 Fax: 01786 451520 email: [email protected] Believe it or not - arrangements are already starting for our turn in 2018 - don't pick up the phone, it may be me to ask you to do a job! SCDA LIBRARY SERVICE And now I'm looking forward to our 90th Birthday celebration at Pitlochry on the 23rd of July, where we can relax and chat and not have to worry about performance nerves, and more importantly, eat drink and be merry! From chatting to my fellow National Chairs in Cardiff it struck me how strong we are as an association, how lucky we are to be in a stable financial situation and to have such NATIONAL LIBRARY, EDINBURGH - a thriving and diverse membership, and I'm sure we have at Room 3/6 Summerhall Arts Centre, least another 90 years in us. Edinburgh EH9 1PL Yours aye, Hours: Tuesday 2-7 pm Jackie Westerman Other visits by appointment [email protected] CONTACT DETAILS: [email protected] Librarians: Poster Competition Douglas Currie (07879 877732), Closing date for entries 1st January 2017. Susan Wales (07799 408608) and Alison McCallum (07772 945612). Postal service in operation at all times. Dunmore Trophy will be presented at Scottish INVERNESS - Final Festival in Pitlochry. Inverness Public Library, Darraline Park, Inverness IV1 1NH. Tel 01463 236463. Any posters from an SCDA clubs production in Hours: Mon & Fri 9am - 7.30pm. 2016 that has the SCDA logo or state they are Tues & Thurs 9am - 6:30pm. members of SCDA is eligible. Electronic PDF file Wed & Sat 9am - 5pm. preferred. Librarians: Miss C Goodfellow & Miss E Burridge

3 CORDINER PRESS: one-act plays and pantomimes by Isabella C. Rae – comedy, drama, fantasy! For catalogue, CLASS ADS see www.cordinerpress.co.uk or contact 36 Mansefield Avenue, Cambuslang, Glasgow G72 8NZ; (The small ads page) Phone 0141 641 1465 Playwright?; small business?; buying or selling?; All NANCY MCPHERSON PLAYS: For a selection of kinds of small ads accepted. Have your ad read pantomimes and award winning One-Act plays including throughout SCDA land. Contact [email protected] ‘Fusion’ (Scott Salver winner 2012) and ‘Waste Send your details to Scene Magazine's classified page. Management’ (Geoffrey Whitworth runner-up 2011) £15 - up to 30 words visit www.nancymcphersonplays.co.uk PLAYS BY RON NICOL: 52 published one act dramas, comedies, youth plays, full-length plays and pantomimes. 300 productions world-wide. Over 120 festival awards. Details at www.ron-nicol.com

MORAE SERVICES: Bookkeeping and Payroll services for small to medium sized businesses, agent for HMRC for PAYE & VAT. Independent Examiner for Charity Accounts. Tel: 01738 446120 or email [email protected]

4 Welcome.... to Sue McPhee from Inverclyde, Lee Dunn from Moray Firth, Christine Hammond from Highland and Scott Fingland from Stewarty; to Aberfeldy Drama Club youth section and to Banchory Amateur Dramatic Company; also to new patrons Tom Fuge, Peter & Susan Baird, Liz Balding, and Charlie Balding

Thank you.... first of all to the members of the Executive and National Committee for continuing to donate expenses; and also to A McNaughtan, Keith Robinson, A Hendry, R Stewart-Meiklejohn, Plockton ADS, A Ross and B Mackenzie for their kind donations.

Tony Flisch National Vice-Chairman [email protected]

The Seven Ages of Man

Amateur actors don’t often get of both Lear and his daughter the chance to play Hamlet or Cordelia comes, sad to say, to Juliet. But then along comes a another untimely end. multi-centenary of our greatest We finished ‘this strange, national dramatist – arguably eventful history’ not quite with the world’s greatest – and The ‘childishness and mere Edinburgh Makars felt we had oblivion’ but with magic. Puck to rise to the occasion. So in led us a merry dance, and the week of the 400th assured the audience that anniversary of Shakespeare’s If we shadows have offended, death we put on a Think but this, and all is performance of The Seven mended, Ages of Man, a rehearsed set of readings from That you have but slumbered Shakespeare’s plays devised here and compiled by Rachel Moon. for more bodies to take their place: While these visions did appear. ‘All the world’s a stage,’ we were we had not one, but two lovers, and Visions, verse and music: between reminded by the company of 14 as they you will know that Romeo and Juliet each scene we heard one of the arrived on stage, ‘And one man in his both end up dead as well. more famous sonnets, with gentle time plays many parts, his acts being Henry V, the ‘soldier full of strange guitar accompaniment. And the seven ages.’ Then the narrator called oaths,’ urged his army into the breach audience was far from offended: they the company to order: ‘Now, we’ll have and inspired them with ‘a little touch were enthusiastic about the evening, a speech straight. And speak the of Harry in the night’ before St with its selection of words, scenes speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it Crispian’s Day. He was followed, and characters from The Bard, some to you, trippingly on the tongue.’ appropriately, by a justice, but it has well-known and some a little more And then we were off, with ‘the infant, to be said that our justice did not have unfamiliar. The company was mewling and puking in the nurse’s a ‘fair round belly with good capon enthusiastic too: each of us got to arms’ in scenes from A Winter’s Tale, lined,’ because our justice was Portia. ‘play many parts,’ including some of with Antigonus duly pursued by a Portia, you will remember, disguises the most rewarding lines we shall bear. The schoolboy followed, herself as a lawyer to plead Antonio’s ever have the chance to present. represented by the student Hamlet. case against Shylock, reminding us And let us hope that Shakespeare And while we called it ‘readings,’ our that ‘The quality of mercy is not would be pleased as well, that his Hamlet – given the most famous strain’d … And earthly power doth work lives on, among all of us who speech in the world – was one of then show likest God’s when mercy marvel at his artistry. several who spoke the speech seasons justice.’ Yet there was not Mike Appleby trippingly on the night, rather than much mercy apparent in our next The Edinburgh Makars reading. This section ended, of scene either, as the closest we could course, with the stage littered with get to a ‘lean and slippered bodies. They were cleared just in time pantaloon’ was Lear – and the oratory

5 Playwriting News to show they can develop a plot, Runner-Up Geoffrey Whitworth create believable characters and write ‘Such a Parcel original dialogue but should also of Rogues’ by Competition 2016 provide information about how their Isabella Rae of The results of this annual playwriting play should be performed. Cambuslang. competition which is administered by Some playwrights think it’s Winner of the Scott Salver SCDA on behalf of our sister UK unnecessary to provide stage directions Competition 2016 this piece organisations – Drama Association of or setting details on the grounds that it’s comprising two plays in one provides Wales, Association of Ulster Drama the director’s job to decide how the contrasting roles for different age Festivals and the All England Theatre work should be staged but a stage play groups as the action alternates Festival – were announced at the end cannot be constructed as if for between the 18th and 21st century of May with all of the submitted scripts television viewers where scenes families. having received their first performance dissolve into each other and the set is in the opening round of their magically changed without any The former storyline portrays the respective competitive festivals. apparent human involvement so if a dreadful poverty left throughout Our Professional Judges were once storyline requires a scene change the Scotland following the doomed Darien again prolific playwright and writer must indicate how it might be Scheme with clearly drawn characters adjudicator Ron Nicol and his wife achieved successfully. and accomplished use of Scots language whilst parallels are drawn Norma who continue to provide a The directors and performers have the with the modern day family about to consistently high standard of benefit of the rehearsal process to vote in the independence referendum. assessment supplying each entrant clarify the contents of the script, with detailed comments on their work interpret the play’s message and Family relationships are well and general advice for future understand the relationships and established with a clear submissions. motivation of the various characters understanding of the female This season the Playwriting Convenor and it’s also quite likely that the author psyche and the suggestion that to had to communicate with a number of directed the original festival production have differing political views risks playwrights whose scripts had obviously or may have been present at bringing lifelong damage to family never received previous performance rehearsals to provide assistance. unity. (some stating the fact quite openly) Whereas competition judges haven’t Lively realistic dialogue colours the indicating that some Playwriting seen the performance of the submitted fiery interactions between the Organisation had been promoting the play and must base their evaluation characters in these absorbing tales event as an open competition without solely on the script as supplied. interwoven by an accomplished mentioning the restrictive criteria. Winning Play playwright. Regrettably there were only twelve ‘The Arrangement’ by Toby Rome of Highly Commended entries this year, fewer than half the Totterdown, Bristol. number expected and writers are ‘Federico’ by Susan Pierce of reminded to check thoroughly for A well planned piece of writing with Saltburn. errors and ensure they abide by the the author providing plenty of A work full of emotion and theatricality competition rules. One script ran to 50 information and helpful stage set in 1936 Spain with a large cast pages because of double-spacing directions. offering possibility of doubling. Twin whilst another risked disqualification Widow Anna celebrating her 60th locations of garden and theatre by using a smaller font than that birthday has recently met 30 year old interior. Dialogue flowing easily with specified. barman Sam who reminds her of a short sequences in Spanish. After the script has passed out of a former lover and she decides to pay Action packed commencing with a playwright’s hands most have no him to sleep with her which forms the blindfolded boy in a children’s game influence over the play’s future basis for an absorbing study into the becoming a blindfolded man before a interpretation and if authors hope it will be evolving relationship between two firing squad. Includes poetry, song played as originally conceived then every well defined characters searching for and excerpts from Lorca’s ‘Butterfly’s effort must be made to ensure their love and comfort in their lives, made Evil Spell’ using puppets and ‘The intentions are clear. more intriguing by their difference in House of Bernarda Alba’. ages. Because authors become totally Assumes that Lorca’s assassination absorbed in their work they naturally As both characters progress through and the Spanish Civil War think that aspects such as the unfamiliar territory their awkwardness background are familiar to audiences message of the piece or motivation of is well conveyed in the dialogue nevertheless a dramatic and fiery characters should immediately be building to a dramatic climax and presentation. obvious to others but unfortunately sensitively handled conclusion. A this isn’t always the case. A script fairly short play with a great deal of has to speak on the author’s behalf depth and some unexpected turning so for the purposes of a playwriting points making the piece absorbing competition playwrights not only need from beginning to end.

6 Feelings are well expressed and sympathetically handled and the story develops well as they explain how Alison’s marriage to Joe breaks up and she finally finds consolation with Will. The text is beautifully written and the characters well drawn but the drama lacks interaction as the two men relate their stories in isolation and the piece might have benefitted by being extended to include Alison’s version of events. Excellently devised with a splendid story, first rate plot developments and potential for audience involvement with the characters. Toby Rome was presented with the Geoffrey Whitworth Trophy on the final evening of the British Final at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff on Saturday 2 July. Commended monologues and a finale when the Many congratulations to the winners two contrasting protagonists meet. ‘Best Foot Forward’ by S and T and thanks to all of our writers who There is some beautiful writing and Wilkinson of Marske by the Sea, submitted their work for assessment well handled comedy plus a lovely North Yorkshire. this season. reconciliation scene to close between Contains vast amount of helpful the two ladies recalling the loss of The top scripts are now available to information for potential directors loved ones. borrow from our National Library at and performers including a three Summerhall in Edinburgh. ‘Journeys’ by Shari Gledhill of page synopsis, detailed character Scarborough. Stephen Lambert descriptions and outline of setting Playwriting Convenor with scene change incorporated into A pair of monologues for two men Photo: Tony Flisch action. each telling their stories of falling in love with the same woman. Essentially a three scene play consisting of two long introductory y C r or ra n b e As claimed before, we i have a Tardis in the r

L National Script Library – not just for time- travel, for its sheer capacity. We may look small but by gum we have some stock, and regularly receive more. The picture collage here is of a small sample of donations in 2016, many newly published and donated by Samuel French, Nick Hern Books, Cressrelles etc., and others donated by individuals. All are available to members. See the online catalogue for single titles. We also have many thousands of collections- some volumes with as many as 59(!) titles within them, so if you cannot find a title just ask and we will search the collections for you. Need inspiration for a particular cast range or genre / length? We also offer a filtering/search service. An online enquiry form will soon be available but meanwhile just email us via [email protected] or ring/text 07799408608.

7 British Final 2016 Our trip to the company and its employees where ‘A Bench at the British Final the company controls pretty well Edge’ by Luigi actually started every detail of the employees life, Jannuzzi and the week before, including personal and sexual performed by the with a visit to relationships. I won’t give away the Scottish finalists, Stratford to see plot details as this would definitely be Studio Theatre our friend Martin a spoiler if you were ever to get a Many of you will Turner perform chance to see the play, but in typical have seen this as Bottom at the absurdist tradition, the two totally play at the RSC. A truly believable characters (The Manager Scottish Final. It relies on there being memorable played by Susan Monkton and Emma a believable edge to the abyss, which experience – but played by Kate Hawkins) took the plot at the Church Hill was accomplished that’s another to a disturbing and extreme by using the edge of the stage. The story. conclusion. The set was stark and stage at the Sherman Theatre is at the We arrived in impersonal as befitted the play. same level as the floor, but the effect Cardiff to find the City buzzing with We learned later from adjudicator Jan was extremely effectively created by energy as Wales prepared to take on Palmer Sayer that this had originally having a hard edge to the stage Belgium (football!). No matter that been conceived as a radio play, lighting. The set was totally minimal the action was in France, it seemed before being taken to the Royal Court consisting solely of a green bench mid that most of Cardiff had turned out to Theatre in London. Jan said it was a stage right on an open stage. watch it on the big screens in the City ‘glossy production, minimal and tight, A Bench at the Edge was Luigi Stadium. The weekend was with perhaps more scope for turning Jannuzzi’s debut play. It is an abstract, altogether quite something as the screw in the last third’. Both avant-garde two-hander which explores Beyoncé had appeared the night actors were praised for their superb ideas surrounding life, death, suicide before, and England was playing Sri characterisation and vocal range. and the abyss. The two characters, Lanka in the Glamorgan ground in The second play of the evening was Man 1 (Scott Jamieson) and Man 2 Sophia Gardens on Saturday. ‘The Martha Syndrome’ by Scott (Scott Neish), located somewhere The civic reception on the Saturday Marshall performed by Northern Ireland between life and death, probe the dark morning was hosted by Huw Irranca- finalists, Rosemary Drama Group shadows of society, asking what drives Davies, member of the National The curtain opened on a set people to the edge and what makes Assembly for Wales in the stunning representing a police interview room. them want to keep on living. Senedd building where the atmosphere A woman(Avril Robb) had been found Jan commended the team for the clever was further enhanced by the beautiful wandering in a park with blood on her staging, costumes and sound, and harp playing of Annabelle Oliver. hands, and the play followed her praised the two actors for their delivery But to the plays…… interrogation by DC Crane(Mel Lyle) and convincing characterisation. The Friday evening started with an and her boss DI Carpenter(Adrian This was then followed by Cooke). When Crane realises that opening video which segued into a ‘Interior Designs’ by Jimmie Chin and she is the wife of a notorious criminal song written specifically for the performed by the English finalists St lawyer, her handling of the situation opening and performed by the Alban’s PlayersOriginally titled “Three changes. I felt that the plot stretched Tenovus Cancer Care ‘Sing with us into One”, this play was first performed credulity somewhat but the actors Choir’ and then the house lights in 1987. Despite now being nearly 40, performed really well – particularly faded and we waited with anticipation the situation and issues are timeless. Avril Robb as ‘The Woman’ and you for the first play. Simply staged with tight spots were drawn into the dark story that ‘Contractions’ by Mike Bartlett delimiting specific areas, the only slowly evolved. I felt too that the performed by the Welsh finalists, The furniture was a stepladder down stage ending was not as unexpected as it Unknown OUTcasts. left. The man ‘Him’ (Rory Adamson) should have been, but that was more covered several roles and effortless This chilling and disturbing play the writing than acting. Jan slipped between these explored the relationship between a commended the actors on their characterisations. The three women performance, but Holly, Amy and Irene (Andrea remarked that it could Pleasant, Rebecca Haslehurst and Gill have done with tighter Gowen) each from very different staging. backgrounds and all benefitting from It should also be noted the attentions of Him. The three that Jan’s women quickly established their announcement of the character and the dialogue sparkled football result got with innuendo. Jan praised its beautiful perhaps the biggest crafting and technical achievement but cheer of the festival! felt the pace slipped occasionally The first play on the through the transitions. Saturday was

8 that there were two plays in this strong quartet that made particularly good use of the stage and that the winner of the Howard de Walden trophy, by just one mark was the Welsh entry with ‘Contractions’. Also awarded was the Geoffrey Whitworth trophy, for best original play performed at the One Act Play Festival, which went to Toby Rome for his play "The Arrangement". Finally Teri McCarthy, Chair of the Drama Association of Wales gave a vote of thanks and handed over to J Mac Pollock of Northern Ireland where the festival will take place in 2017. You can find more photographs of this thoroughly The audience fully enjoyed this lighter piece as the enjoyable event here : - culmination of two nights of very high quality drama. https://www.flickr.com/photos/56544645@N07/albums/72 157670601636605 After some more excellent Welsh singing, it was time for the platform party and the result. Jan did not keep us Tony Flisch waiting, taking very little time in coming to her conclusion Grease is the Word

be brought out for the as Cha Cha. The whole show was appropriate scenes. The an excellent example of ensemble costume team (Shirley playing and those in lead roles were Angus and Morag McKean) ably supported by the other cast searched for authentic members in the minor roles (Eilidh 1950s costumes, creating a Millin, Steven Fleming, Robert visually stunning show. The Lawson, Ailsa Bos, Niamh Hale, attention to detail didn’t Samantha Kilpatrick, Ciara stop there and great care McDonald, Stephanie McBride, Mia was taken in finding 50s McKendrick and Cameron Murray). style props including The audiences thoroughly enjoyed Grease is one of the best known American sweets and a portable the musical numbers and musicals of all time, starting as a record player. Gillian Cameron (one imaginative dances to well-known stage show in 1971 before being of the parents) made the most songs like ‘Summer Nights’ , made into the iconic film starring fantastic headdresses for the ‘Beauty ‘Greased Lightening’ and John Travolta and Olivia Newton School Dropout’ dream sequence ‘Hopelessly Devoted’ and many John in 1978. Although the musical The talented cast, took on these couldn’t help joining in. The cast has been available to schools, it is iconic roles and made them their received several standing ovations rarely available to amateur groups, own. The interactions between the after gripping the audiences each so Kirkintilloch Players were T-Birds (Lewis Baird, Arran night with their amazing delighted to hear that the narrow Summers, Ben McDowall, Fionn performances. It was clear they were window of availability to perform it, Cameron and Adam Cooper) were thoroughly enjoying themselves on fitted with the timing of their youth completely believable, incredibly stage and the audiences smiled from summer show. After 4 ½ months of energetic and very humorous. The start to finish. For Kirkintilloch rehearsals, Kirkintilloch Players characterisation of the Pink Ladies Players, Grease really is the word! enthralled audiences last week with (Rachel Kimmett, Claire Connor, their energetic performance. Lorna Campbell Tierney McLeod and Aimee Kirkintilloch Players Youth With 22 musical numbers, multiple Alexander) was excellent and locations and a car required on stage their interactions with Sandy in our tiny 60 seater Turret Theatre, it (Megan Kilpatrick) were varied was probably one of the most difficult and convincing. There is a lot shows we have ever staged. The of humour in the show and this production team (Hilary Lynas, Amy was handled very well by Angus and Anne Marie Connor) rose many of the characters but admirably to the challenge. The special mention goes to Mitzi imaginative and versatile staging, Oliver as Patty Simcox and designed by Amy Angus and Gordon Stuart Fleming as Eugene. Allan and created by the talented The famous prom scene stage crew, allowed the specially built ended with a breath taking car to be stored on the stage and to dance from Jemma McLachlan

9 Scottish Youth Final

Every year I look forward to, and thoroughly enjoy, all the scda youth festivals and am always very impressed by the high standard of the youth plays, which seems to improve with each passing year. This year we had a very interesting situation where two teams in the final performed the same play. Although it is not to everyone’s liking to see the same play twice in a competition, I have always enjoyed this experience as I find it very interesting to watch how two teams approach the same play in a completely contrasting way. Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, was the venue for the 2016 Scottish youth finals and the adjudicator, Alasdair Hawthorn, had the extremely difficult job of choosing a winner. He spoke about what a wonderful organisation scda is and how it is still going strong after 90 years.

to go to cover up an accident. He personally didn’t think the tableau at the start was necessary as we were drawn into the story by not knowing and it would have been more powerful to let the idea trickle to the audience and too much was given away at the start. He was also distracted by scene changes and would have had the three acting areas left on stage, which would have allowed the performance to flow from one scene to the next. He praised the interaction between the players which was very believable. He said it is very difficult to speak over each other, as is the case in real life, but the company managed to He began his adjudication by commenting that all four pinpoint everything you wanted to hear and the dialogue plays covered very serious subject matters and was all still heard. continued that all four deserved to be here and praised them on their high standards. The afternoon session opened with Thistle Theatre Company, representing Western Division, performing “Rabbit” by David Foxton. He said the presentation was excellent and liked the acting on varied levels. It was a lovely setting and very atmospheric, excellent ensemble playing and all the cast had an individuality about them. He felt at times the lighting changes were a bit too bright and the music sometimes intrusive. He thought it was a very powerful piece, powerfully put across. Following that was Breadalbane Academy, representing Northern Division, performing “DNA” by Denis Kelly. Alasdair said this was another incredibly powerful piece and spoke about it showing how far people were willing

10 First in the evening was Fintry ADS part of the same “tribe”. At representing Eastern Division times there was difficulty performing “Tuesdays and Sundays” hearing when the diction was by Daniel Arnold. Alasdair said this a little bit muddy. Even if a play was a challenge, based on a performer has only one line it true story. The performers rose to is equally important that they the challenge to make the words should be heard. their own, with only each other’s Unfortunately, it couldn’t be characters to rely on. It had very seen who said the line due to good pace and very clear vocal the grouping and the actors clarity, with little nuances to add to being in absolute straight the different characters they had to lines. Good characters and portray. A couple of times the tail good individual end of lines was lost but not enough characterisation and he to lose the thread. Beautifully staged praised the only male in a with colours blending. A minor large, all female, cast. criticism was a couple of times the As I’m sure everyone who lighting was too dim. 10% more attended the Scottish Youth would have lifted faces so facial Final will agree, the future of expressions could be more clearly scda is assured and in very seen. The lovely song at the competent hands, and will beginning set the mood and you continue to go from strength could hear a pin drop at times. to strength. Laughs were also there, which was down to the actors’ performances. Ann Fuge This was, in my opinion, the well- Photos by Tony Flisch and David deserved winner. Smith Last on was Inverness Royal Academy, representing Highland division, again performing “Rabbit” by David Foxton. Alasdair found it fascinating to watch two performances of the same play. Powerful imagery made sense to show the precursor to the play, very simple but very powerful. He wondered if maybe some kind of uniform would have shown they were

11 All the world’s a stage….. but do we really need one? at times desperation. What better way to perform it then, than to find a small, intimate venue with its own bar and invite the audience into that space, allowing them to believe that they are there with the characters. And it seems that we achieved that: there was more than one audience member who admitted that they were close to joining in with the chorus of “goodnights” as Jim and Finbar left the bar towards the end of the unprecedented, and we played to The Linlithgow Players have never play. sell-out audiences. been shy of site-specific Our production of “The Weir” was a And so what next? I think it will be performances but when it came to welcome reminder that theatre does hard for us to return to what is our Spring production, our fall back not need a stage. Indeed, becoming a prohibitively expensive position had for many years been sometimes we can create something traditional venue. It seems a our local secondary school stage. contradiction that on the one hand A desire to embrace new and our local council “encourages the creative ideas, coupled with the wellbeing and lifelong learning of the financial pressures of the local people of West Lothian by providing council increasing venue hire fees opportunities to participate in the has encouraged the group to explore arts”, while on the other hand it is different ways of bringing challenging pricing out of the market the local and exciting theatre to the town. amateur groups that provide that This Spring, the search for a venue opportunity. But perhaps this has and a play that worked well brought been a blessing in disguise for us, us to “The Weir” staged in one of our opening our eyes to other creative local hostelries, the function room of ideas and allowing us to develop a The Star and Garter Hotel. piece of theatre that brought us and This award winning play by Conor more magical without it. The our audiences a unique, enchanting MacPherson is set in a remote, small physical closeness of the players and impressive combination of play bar on the west coast of Ireland. On allowed shifts of emotion in the and venue that will stay with us for a dark and windy Winter’s evening, characters to be keenly felt, some time to come. The hunt for the with the peat stove glowing, Brendan increasing the empathy and next winning combination the barman welcomes Jack, Jim, responsiveness of the audience. begins………….. Finbar and new-comer Valerie as This heightened the contrast Liz Drewett they gather for some pints and a few between the spontaneous and Linlithgow Players ‘small ones’. The gentle shared laughter of characters and showmanship of the story-telling audience and the pin-drop stillness which is central to the play is of an audience contrasted with the intimacy of held by the characters opening up and reaching emotional out to others by perhaps unwittingly intensity of a revealing their personal regrets and character’s story. So site-specific theatre enriched our production. We attracted new audience members who were intrigued by the idea of a play being performed in a bar, tickets sales were

12 Play Reviews – BY STEPHEN LAMBERT Scripts from leading publishing houses can be ordered through the SCDA Discount Scheme - please contact Brenda Williams at our National Office by phone or email for details. Reading copies of all scripts and the top plays in our Scott Salver, Geoffrey Whitworth and Play on Words script writing competitions are available to borrow from the SCDA National Library at Summerhall Arts Centre in Edinburgh. Please note that we cannot guarantee every script reviewed is currently available for amateur performance. NICK HERN BOOKS Another Pulitzer Prize winning drama filled in a series of mesmeric love scenes featuring a with distinctive wit and grace charting the path procession of devastatingly attractive men or ‘Poppy + George’ by Diane Samuels from grief to its antidotes of love and hope for rail at the fate of women in a patriarchal society. Romantic Drama (with music) in seven scenes the future with sightfulness, compassion and Prepare yourself for vermin, moustaches, wild Cast: 2 Male, 2 Female ISBN: 9781848425453 searing honesty. It was made into a film animals, lots of French people and a nun. starring Nicole Kidman in 2010 and this stage Written for a bijou cast of four playing over 30 The period is 1919 and the Great War is version had its UK premier at Hampstead challenging multiple roles. finally over when Poppy Wright arrives in Theatre in 2016. London from the North of England to make Like their tremendously popular ‘Hound of the Composite setting of kitchen, living room and her mark in the world. Baskervilles’ in which I had the absolute joy of bedroom. Deep in the heart of the East End she finds appearing in 2013, Bovary offers abundant employment in Smith’s tailoring and costumier Helpful playwright’s note on how a potential opportunities for slick comedy, slapstick humour workshop where she meets dashing chauffeur director can achieve the delicate tonal balance and massive tragedy to any theatre company George with whom she quickly falls in love. essential to the piece. looking for a loving derailment of a classic novel. However this is a time of change and ‘Nell Gwynne’ by Jessica Swale Details of advised casting provided. opportunity emerging from the losses of war Two Act Drama ISBN: 9781848425590 when all are questioning who they are and the Cast: 7 Male, 5 Female plus ensemble SPOTLIGHT PUBLICATIONS differing roles they can play in forging a new ‘Licenced To Thrill’ by Simon Rayner Davis modern era – it’s time to ditch the corset and It is London 1660 and King Charles II has discover who really wears the trousers. exploded onto the scene with a love of all One Act Comedy In 3 Scenes things loud, extravagant and sexy while at Cast: 8 M, 6 F( some parts interchangeable) Inspired by the days of music hall and drawing Drury Lane a young Nell Gwynne is causing ISBN 9781907307829 on a world of female impersonators, popular stirrings amongst theatre goers. song, double entendre and some unexpected Simon Davis hilarious spoof version of the revelations, this new play received its premiere The storyline charts the rise of an unlikely heroine James Bond movie genre is slick, fast-moving at Watford Palace Theatre in 2016. from her roots in Coal Yard Lane to her eventual and full of inventive wordplay, including the success as Britain’s most celebrated actress most excruciating puns imaginable and While the script refers to Musician Tommy earning a hard won place in the heart of the King. playing piano, he could equally well be featuring characters like Miss Funny Money accomplished on the ukulele, accordion or However in an age when women are still and Chester Drawers commonly known as another appropriate instrument of the period. second class citizens, can her charm and spirit Droopy, guaranteed to provide audiences with of determination protect her from the dangers laughter and groans galore. Copy includes helpful background notes by of the royal court. Diane Samuels, original production photos and Jimmy Blond, special agent of M.Hi5 is sent on a glossary of foreign phrases. A wonderfully layered celebration of theatre a deadly mission to the Scottish Glens - enter and an apt homage to a woman incredibly Glenn McGlenda McGlenn and her husband – ‘Wit’ by Margaret Edson ahead of her generation. to rescue a kidnapped diplomat, Stan Dandy- One Act Extended Drama Liver from the clutches of two criminal gangs This exhilarating take on the heady world of Nortee and Nice. The denouement at the Cast: 4 Male, 4 Female with doubling Restoration Theatre premiered at Shakespeare’s Mystery Moustache Ball where everyone ISBN: 9781848425521 Globe in 2015 before transferring to the West End wears ridiculous moustaches features earlier this year featuring Gemma Arterton, Vivian Bearing a celebrated but exacting exploding cakes and the ultimate secret Michelle Dotrice and David Rintoul – a rollicking Professor of Metaphysical Poetry has been weapon of bomb proof underpants. diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer good evening’s entertainment. Easily achievable settings of Office and and it appears her life is nearing its final chapter. Jessica Swale’s other work includes many Reception, a short scene staged front of tabs adaptations of classical novels and ‘Blue As she submits herself to an experimental and finally a hotel entrance hall. Perfect Youth Stockings’ (previously reviewed) which is treatment Vivian approaches her illness with theatre material with comprehensive effects already proving a popular success amongst the same uncompromising rigour she brings to plot, furniture and properties list. bear on the sonnets of John Donne and amateur and student companies and is Running Time of 40 minutes. eventually comes to reassess her life and work currently on the GCSE drama syllabus. with profundity and moving wry humour. The script also celebrates the musicality of ‘Andrew’s Heart’ by Claire Scott th This Pulitzer Prize winning script is a striking and 17 Century drama, brimming with song and One Act Drama. ISBN 9781907307775 sharply funny reflection on the frailty of existence dance. Featuring original lyrics, Nigel Cast: 2 Male, 1 Female and complex relationship between knowledge Hess’s beautiful song arrangements can be licensed from Nick Hern Books. With a simple setting of a prison waiting room, and love. A dazzling yet humane play first this well written, tense and revealing drama performed in 1995 and recently revised at the Copy includes text of an interview with the contains some powerful, confrontational Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. playwright speaking to theatre historian Heather dialogue as both characters seek the upper- Most of the action takes place in a hospital Neill about the historical background of the hand as the storyline progresses. relationship between King Charles and Nell. treatment room with furniture rolled on stage by When bereaved mother Anna Duncan tries to the technicians. ‘The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary’ find the transplant recipient for her son Andrew’s ‘Rabbit Hole’ by David Lindsay-Abaire (Gustave Flaubert’s complex novel lovingly heart she gets more than she bargained for in Two Act Drama ISBN: 9781848425569 derailed by Peepolykus) adapted by John convicted murderer Gary McCarron. However, her criticism of Gary’s past life reflects just as Cast: 2 Male, 3 Female Nicholson and Javier Marzan Two Act Comedy ISBN: 9781848425644 much about the darker side of her own Becca and Howie Corbett are a happy suburban personality and both individuals are forced to Cast: 3 Male, 1 Female couple whose lives are changed forever when face up to some hard personal truths about their young son Danny is killed in an accident. An exhilarating combination of verbal themselves. Ideal Festival Material. slapstick, visual surprise and anarchic Eight months after the event, they are beginning Running Time 40 Minutes. to drift perilously apart with Becca wanting to comedy is brought to Flaubert’s seminal start afresh in a new home and give away her nineteenth century masterpiece. son’s possessions whilst Howie is determined to Audiences will laugh and cry in equal measure keep the memory of Danny alive at all costs. as Emma Bovary chooses the wrong husband

13 Disaster! An email from Director John McSkimming tells me that we weren’t Premiere Angst placed in the first three. He adds that the standby adjudicator told him he January 26th had us in second place, but it’s no sangfroid she hissed, “No, darling, your consolation. The winning play is a I’m a bit anxious. My one-act play arm is broken, not your wrist!” two-hander called A Bench at the Tom & Gerry is to be premiered on The idea for Tom & Gerry of course Edge by Luigi Jannuzzi, which I think 27th February in Carnoustie, and I've didn’t come from Plaza Suite, but from I’ve seen before. I google it and got first-night jitters already. Will the Neil Simon’s masterpiece The Odd discover that it is just about the most audience like it? Will they laugh at Couple, familiar to most people from successful one act play of the last the jokes? Be moved by the story? the 1968 movie starring Walter Matthau twenty years and has won countless Relate to the characters? - and Jack Lemmon. It features two awards, including best play at the characters that I've created? mismatched roommates, Oscar British Finals of this competition in I’ve had this feeling before, both Madison, described as ‘a slovenly, 2001. The synopsis reads, “A man onstage and off. The nervous recently divorced sportswriter’ and Felix sits on a bench at the edge of an anticipation you get before a Ungar, ‘a fastidious, hypochondriac abyss watching the human race rush performance. As an actor, my newswriter whose marriage is ending’. into it. Along comes a second man routine, almost a ritual, was to pace The idea was to translate New York to contemplating ‘a heroic dive’. What is up and down a bit manically. Others Edinburgh, and so Oscar and Felix the abyss and what are these men had different routines. I knew a guy became Tom and Gerry. They are doing here? Terrifying concepts and who created what he called ‘a retired veterans, and the plot centres on visions of deepening mysteries cocoon’: he sat in a corner with his Remembrance Day. One idea followed emerge from their confrontation, and head bowed and his eyes shut. And another, and soon Tom and Gerry had they conclude that life is precious woe betide anyone who tried to partners, Molly and Wilhelmina. Gerry after all.” Gulp! break in, he got very shirty indeed! and Molly have already met through a April 23rd Being a playwright is different, and ‘serendipity’ moment in Sainsbury’s. A Bench at the Edge wins first prize at much worse. At least as an actor you Tom and Wilhelmina meet fortuitously the Scottish Finals. Ah well, we were have some control over your destiny, when she reverses her car into Tom’s up against it. A simple comedy on the but as a playwright you have none. parking space and scrapes the side of one side, and on the other a complex You sit in the auditorium or at the his BMW. A simple romantic drama about the abyss, a play that back and watch the audience’s entanglement follows with Tom initially wins competitions; and is liked by reactions to your baby – which you not liking Wilhelmina. He pretends to be adjudicators We are always told that in have written and rewritten, honed and gay with comic results. The competition it’s not the choice of play proof-read. You’ve lived with your denouement involves music, is very that counts, but the way in which it is characters for days or weeks and satisfying and a lot of fun. changed the ending a dozen times. done. I sometimes wonder about this. Now all you can do is sit and wait. February 27th There are plays, and there are Well, I had no need to worry. The cast ‘challenging’ plays: it’s like Degree of February 6th performed the play wonderfully well, Difficulty in diving competitions. Here’s The idea for Tom & Gerry came to me and the audience seemed to like it. the conundrum: if an adjudicator is over a few days just before Christmas Brian Marjoribanks, the adjudicator, presented with two plays, one a of 2014. I’m a great fan of Neil Simon. I too. The team won two prizes, first serious play on a weighty subject, the remember taking part in an amdram overall and best stage presentation, other more lightweight, and if both are production of Plaza Suite Act 3 in the and are on to the Divisional Final in equally well performed, which one will nineties. The play is set in a hotel Aberdeen on the 24th March. he or she choose? bedroom minutes before a wedding March 24th So thanks to the cast: ceremony is due to start. The mother Sam Ruddell (Tom), Grant Wilson Another excellent performance from and father of the bride, Roy and Norma (Gerry), Carolyn Harrison (Molly), the team, good ensemble work, Hubley, discover to their horror that Cath Eddie (Wilhelmina), and Dave word-perfect and well-paced. More their daughter Mimsey has locked Ross (Roger), not forgetting director laughs than at Carnoustie. The herself in the bathroom and won’t come John McSkimming and stage opposition is less than impressive. out. My character, Roy, threatens to manager Steve Rose. break the door down if Mimsey doesn’t We’re in with a chance! come out. She doesn’t of course, so I March 27th Dave Buchanan gave the door an actorish shoulder- charge, a move I’d rehearsed over and over with the Director. The door flat wobbled, but not disastrously so. However I realised I’d knocked my wrist on the doorknob. My next line was, “Get a doctor”; which I said, but before the actress (whose name also happened to be Norma) could reply I added, “Norma, I think my wrist is broken.” She frowned as if to say don’t you dare ad-lib, but with amazing

14 JOHN MORLEY’S PANTOMIMES “THE DOYEN OF GOOD PANTOMIME WRITERS” (The Times 1994)

CINDERELLA SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS PETER PAN BABES IN THE WOOD BEAUTY AND THE BEAST THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PUSS IN BOOTS RED RIDING HOOD HUMPTY DUMPTY WIZARD OF OZ MOTHER GOOSE “NO ONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT PANTO THAN JOHN MORLEY” (Sunday Times) FROM NODA LTD.

ALADDIN ROBINSON CRUSOE GOLDILOCKS & THE THREE BEARS PINOCCHIO JACK & THE BEANSTALK THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS SINBAD THE SAILOR DICK WHITTINGTON “WRITTEN BY JOHN MORLEY, THIS IS PANTO AT ITS BEST” (The Guardian) FROM SAMUEL FRENCH LTD.

15 EK Rep Theatre

Reflections and news from an aging able to put on their plays in a proper announcemen thespian - they can’t touch you for it! theatre built for that purpose, The ts about this To a theatre world far off in another East Kilbride Village theatre. made later . Galaxy (is the cosmos made of Their new Season of 2016/ 2017 Then on chocolate?) of Repertory was also announced :- Saturday 25th machinations. Aug/Sept 2016 June the club celebrated The EK Rep Theatre is one of the Ladies Down Under, a comedy by then end of a busiest Rep Theatres on the Scottish Amanda Whittington amateur circuit, mounting some five successful October2016 plays, a two week pantomime and a season with a barbecue held in their One Act Play Festival in May. Good Things, a comedy by Liz rehearsal HQ premises, known Lochhead Several of the SCDA member clubs locally as ‘the hut’. participated in the Rep’s One Act December 2016 A good time was had by all. play Festival and indeed took off with Pantomime Robin Hood by George However the ‘rest’ was short lived as some of the awards. Indeed Killin DC Waite they went immediately into rehearsal managed to win no less that three of February 2017 for the 31st August opening night for the awards and here was me ‘Ladies Down Under’ The Lady Killers a black comedy by thinking that they only came for the The E K Rep Theatre is a bit like the Graham Linehan sandwiches and the banter. Well old London theatre, the Windmill, done Killin and the rest. April 2017 whose reputation during WW II was, Following on the 15th June saw the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate ‘We never shut. We are always open’ opening of our last production of the Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Any budding actors or backstage Season with “Nana’s Naughty Society Murder Mystery, (comedy). people are all welcome to come and Knickers.” A great American comedy May 2017 join and carry out a long held wish to with the result that there was no EK RepFest - A festival of one act be involved in the theatre, safe in the underwear left in East Kilbride as it plays. knowledge that they had, as my was all on stage for the production. June 2017 mother used to put it, a proper job Watch out for the great knicker sale all elsewhere or indeed for those just Time of My Life, a comedy by Alan sold off for 50p or to you and me - half retired and want to give it a go. Ayckbourn a knicker!!! A busy Rep Theatre like ours is a rare “The choice of plays,” they said, “was The 22nd June saw the club’s AGM commodity nowadays as even down to asking their public, through a which saw it in rude health but aware professional companies are getting survey, what plays or playwrights that of the rising cost to amateurs to put rarer. E.g. The Dundee Rep. Perth they would like to see.” on plays. Although the club feels that Rep, Pitlochry Festival theatre, it is in very fortunate position to be Latterly as last season ended, they Traverse in Edinburgh and the saw their audience figures Citizens in Glasgow. These rising, even for mid week companies are about the only ones left dates. in Scotland and the phenomenon is As a community theatre, even rarer in England. they will continue their So if you are an audience out there policy of giving local looking for a play then support your charities complimentary local Rep company – amateur or tickets to be used as fund professional. raisers or as ‘thank yous’ to As, all good things must come to an their members and friends. end, so I close and thank every one This year they are looking who has supported the theatre and in to get local schools more particular the East Kilbride Rep Theatre involved as that is where and endorse the fact that you will enjoy 2015 Panto - Alice in Wonderland the future interest and their next 2016/2017 Season. audiences lie. There will be Ken Lawton Accuracy The Editor is not able to authenticate all details in every article. If you submit an article to us we expect you to have checked the facts. Photos We want your photos. Images must be 300 dpi and please don’t let your email client make them smaller. If you are unsure please email us [email protected] and we will advise you.

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16 EK RepFest - 33rd Anniversary

On Saturday The re-vamp of the festival and its Hawthorn who concurred with Mrs 15th May, rebranding is going from strength to Macmillan regards the organisation. 2015 the EK strength as the Rep Fest (the He then went through the week’s Rep. Friendly festival of One Act plays). programme making good and Theatre’s As a result it drew in clubs from, pertinent comments about the various festival of Stewarton, Killin, Greenock , and productions and remarking on the one act Rutherglen and for the first time the high standard and the eclectic mix plays drew Accent Players from Campbeltown in that the audience had seen all week. to a close. Kintyre – some eight plays in all. He hoped that both the audience and The the clubs had learnt something or at adjudication was presided over by The prize-giving was opened with a least sowed the seed that “we could Mr. Alasdair Hawthorn who has had few words of thanks from The EK do that one.” He went on, “It had been years of experience as a drama Rep‘s President, Mrs Jean Macmillan difficult to separate each production teacher, an actor and a Director. He to all those who had helped and to as each play had had something to has adjudicated both one act and full the audience for coming - many all commend it.” length plays all over the country. week and in particular Ann Macfie the Festival Director. To give the All in all it was obvious from the This year he will be directing the audience’s reactions over the week, pantomime at Kirkcaldy’s Adam adjudicator time to add the marks she gave a rendition of Chick Murray that they had thoroughly enjoyed the Smith Centre. Perhaps awaking the wide selection of the plays on offer. days when he was on that same jokes which seemed to go down very stage with the like of Jimmy Logan at well (“Just like this or was it that?”). Ken Lawton the Centre some 23 years ago. She then introduced Mr. Alasdair Prizes were awarded as follows : 1st : John McNicol Trophy Greenock Players Blackout

2nd : Arts Council Trophy Stewarton Drama Group The Night I danced with Cyd Charise

3rd : Whitemoss Trophy Killin Drama Club Towpath

Best Actor : Alf Davidson Trophy Gordon Hibbert (Killin) Into the Mist

Best Actress : EK Rep Theatre Trophy Alison Barr (Stewarton) The Night I danced with Cyd Charise

Best Staging : Betty McAuley Trophy Killin Drama Club Into the Mist

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Don’t Forget….. Putting on a show? Email the information to [email protected] and the information will be entered into the diary. Remember to give as much information as possible, please do not assume that we know your club’s contact details. A post code for the venue is always useful too.

17 National Conference & AGMs This will take place as usual at the Stirling Court Hotel (previously Stirling University Management Centre) on Saturday 19th November. I am trying to make the event interesting, informative and fun and am introducing some drama related events which should have a broad appeal. This will include talks by: - Paul Fowler (Chairman of GoDA). Paul, is well known and respected in SCDA and will talk on the process of adjudication, pointers for successful productions, and how GoDA trains and supervises its member adjudicators. Citizens’ Theatre Director. The Citizens Theatre Glasgow has agreed to provide one of their directors who will talk about direction from a professional viewpoint and the work of the Citizens generally. Each session will be followed by a Q&A session that will allow discussion of the issues raised. These speakers are now confirmed. The programme is shaping up as follows, but some detail and timings could change:- Friday 18 November Social Dinner – early birds will get together for dinner and a chat - I presume some alcohol will be consumed (perhaps more by some than others). Saturday 9 November 11:00 AM AGM. 11:45 AM Open forum. A discussion on festivals and any other matters relevant to the activities of the association generally. I will be asking you to submit matters you might like to raise for discussion some time before the meeting, although there will be scope for ad hoc questions too. 12:45 AM National Committee meeting. 1:30-2:30 Lunch. 2:30-3:45 Paul Fowler and Q&A. 3:45-4:00 Break and coffee. 4:00-5:30 Citizens theatre director and Q&A. 7:00 Evening meal. 8:00 - ?? Entertainment! (all will be revealed later!) Sunday 10 November Breakfast, fond farewells and depart. You can pick and choose between these activities from taking a 2 night dinner B&B package, to turning up on the Saturday for the day’s events. Prices are as follows:- ● Single room is £49.00 per night ● Shared room (double or twin) is £67.00 (33.50 each) ● Dinner on the Saturday is £31.00 Please do come along and support the association, be entertained and informed. To book, contact me by email [email protected], telephone 01360 860580 or at Easter Glenboig Mill Cottage, Fintry, Glasgow G63 0YH. Tony Flisch (National Vice-Chair)

Highland Division AGM The National AGM of the Association 29th October in the Florians Theatre, inverness at 1pm. will take place on Saturday 19th November at 11am in the Stirling Court Hotel, Stirling University, Stirling FK9 4LA to Western Division AGM which you are warmly invited. 22nd October in the Broomhill Hotel, Kilmarnock at 2pm. Tea/Coffee from 10.30 am Eastern Divisional AGM Minutes of previous AGM and Annual report will be sent Saturday 22nd October 2016 at 10am in Tillicoultry by e-mail to Members prior to the meeting Bowling Club, Moss Road, Tiliicoultry If you require a postal copies please contact Brenda The Northern Divisional AGM Williams, National Office Administrator, Suite 88, STEP, Stirling FK7 7RP. Tel: 01786 440077 ACT Aberdeen on Sunday 2nd October 2016 at 2pm Apologies to National Secretary Morna Barron (14.00hours). Apologies to [email protected] by [email protected] 30th September 2016. Lunch can be organised at the 'Illicit Still' Aberdeen, at 12 noon. Please let Peter Esson A full programme of events to accompany the AGM has ([email protected]) know if you wish lunch. been arranged - please refer to the article above for further information. 18 Having for various very own live Saturday night reasons not been able block buster, combining the to attend the now best of all the other formats. All famous Killin Komedy they need now is an audience, Festival the past five some contestants, four judges, years, I was delighted to a mirror ball… oh, yes, and make it to Killin this year. some ice. The weather was gorgeous, knew Greenock Players then gave us Gordon, Lesley and clan were ‘Kevin’s Above’ by Claire Scott. good organisers but how they A wonderful comedy about two managed to have brilliant sunshine men both named Kevin who Killin Drama Club - Cinderella all weekend was truly a bonus. find themselves in heavens After a pleasant meal with waiting room. Hilarity ensues as friends at the Killin Hotel, we walked across the road to the receptionist, new to the job, the McLaren and only expecting one Kevin, Hall. I didn’t tries to solve the various problems. Killin Drama Club - ABC really know Lesley Simpson from Perth Drama Club gave us a cheery what to expect tale and Sharon but had been returned with told it would be more poetry. a good night. We then had How true, there another couple was an of sketches expectant party from Perth atmosphere to Drama Club. start with, plenty GIP from of balloons, a Inverclyde gave Greenock Players - side stage and main stage and the all-important bar! us a wonderfully Kevins Above The evening kicked off in great style with ‘An Important funny play, all Announcement’ from Lesley Syme. Right from the start I be it with a sad knew I was in for a treat. The laughter followed every turn, ending, ‘Mind Your Own Show Business’ by David Carswell. in particular I loved Paul Anderson from FADS with ‘Fifteen The three men are discussing ideas for a new TV show. Minutes Wasted’ and the various other monologues he did They look at various ideas, a chat show along the lines of with complete disregard to Shakespeare. Jeremy Kyle –naw – been done to death says one of the Perth Drama Club and Killin Drama Club both gave us a characters. How about cookery programmes? They then do couple of comedy sketches that had the audience groaning a spoof of the Great British Bake Off – Cooking for the with delight. Interspersed was poetry readings in ‘Pam Financially Challenged with a student versus an unemployed Ayre’ style by Sharon Wadsley who comes up from welder. They then look at shopping channels and finally England every year to add to the fun. The final piece for while arguing over Songs of Praise with naked Nuns one of the evening was a radio Play by Lesley Syme and Andrew the men loses his temper – quick appearance of two nurses, Murphy with sound effects provided by members of the - twist at the end as two of the men fade into the background audience – would Gordon press gang volunteers – never! and the third loses the plot! He was a TV writer who has lost Complete mayhem as Martin from Perth, Margaret from his family in a tragic accident and his mind never recovered. KADS and myself tried to keep up with the plot. Doubtful His psychiatrist recommended he be given pen and paper in sounds with flying fish, broken eggs, a bath full of water the hope he comes out of his stupor, but he never has. and even worse timing brought the evening to a close Once again members of the audience are dragged along to Saturday dawned yet another sunny day, and most of us help with the radio play sound effects to finish off the evening. had a stroll through the village and then relaxed in the sun After a few nice nibbles and final drink we wandered slowly putting the world to rights as we eagerly anticipated the back to the hotel having had a thoroughly enjoyable evening Saturday’s performances. and hopefully made a few coppers for SCDA. The evening kicked off with Riverside Drama Club Thanks Gordon, Lesley, Lizzie and Co for organising a presenting Sex Factor on Ice, by David Tristram. The Little wonderful weekend, if you have never been – you must Grimley Amateur Society make the effort to go next year. I am certainly booking Riverside Drama Club - Sex are faced with yet another my seat now! Photosby Tony Flisch Factor on Ice threat to their very Morna Barron existence. Reality TV shows have ravaged their Killin Drama Club - Cinderella Saturday night audiences, which in their hey-day used to occasionally reach double figures. Never one to take these things lying down, Chairman Gordon (not Mr Hibbert) has devised a cunning plan to compete head-on - their

19 Kirkintilloch Players

Snow White EPT Buttons (Matthew Dunn) and admirers

Dollar Drama London Suite Project Theatre - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Connection

Kirkintilloch Players Eastwood Entertainers Abigails Party by Mike Leigh The Full Monty

Abbey Theatre Abbey Theatre Witches of Pollock King Arthur & the Knights of the Round table