The magazine of the Somerset Fellowship spotlight of Drama May 2013

Charity Changes announced for the David No.1084863 Beach Competition the year, reading every The SFD committee is sending a letter to adjudication, assessing all musical societies to advise them of some changes the relative merits of in the team for the David Beach Competition. each production and Moderator Ros Roderigo and Coordinator Sandra putting together all the Pittwood will be stepping down from their roles. Ian information for the final Hurdman, who many of you will know because he is presentations. At long one of the competition’s existing adjudicators, will last she and her husband be taking over as moderator and Ron Roberts, who Richard will be able to New David Beach adjudicates for this competition as well as enjoy some holidays Moderator Ian moderating for the Cinderella pantomime copetition, together! Ros said, “I am Hurdman will provide continuity throughout the changes. SFD sorry to be stepping vice-chair Di Dean will be the new coordinator. down and I would like to The committee’s letter is printed on page 5 thank my splendid team for all the good work that they did.” Ros Roderigo expressed regret at standing down from a role that she says she “loved, and was Meanwhile, it has not taken Ian Hurdman long to honoured to do.” But she will undoubtedly welcome get into his new role and he is looking forward to a break from travelling round the county throughout seeing some very exciting productions this year.

Joe Egg through to semis Troupersʼ production wins In this month’s Spotliight Wessex Division Well-Trained prizes by Performed over two sessions on a rainy Richard Derry 2 Saturday in April, the Wessex Division Quarter Final What Did They Say? by of the All-England one-act festival provided Sam Allen 2 some first-rate entertainment. Of the four All-England Drama presentations, two were from societies associated Festival 3 Barrie Palmer, with the SFD, St Gregory Players and Troupers from Fundraising Outside the whose story is Frome who were declared winners, going through to Box by Sue Pomeroy 4 featured on the semi-finals. For those of you who have not had a Committee Cuttinngs 5 pages 11 & 12 chance to see this excellent production, the Western What’s On 6 Area semi-finals are in Warminster on 18th May. Auditions 7 Full details of the festival quarterfinals are on page Minehead’s Barnstormers by Doug Ross 8 The secret of the panto horse 10 3. From the Brewhouse to the RSC, the story of

Donʼt Forget… Barrie Palmer 11 The deadline for submissions to Spotlight is 21st of the previous See the first of Sue Pomeroyʼs regular month. columns on Page 4 Email: [email protected]

1 Well-Trained Prizes! What did they say? By Richard Derry By Sam Allen Spotlight editor Sam Allen is seeking more contributions to the magazine.

Anyone who thinks that amateur drama is only for luvvies and airheads should think again! I was interested to see a quote in a recent edition of the . In it, Photo: Geof Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Sheppard Web, talks about his role in the fantastic London Olympics Opening Ceremony. He said, “I always SFD Treasurer Richard Derry shares one of his more unusual experiences enjoyed amateur drama in my youth and in as he recounts his cunning plan to many ways it was like a massive amateur make sure that the show goes on! pantomime.” Indeed, the great thing about amateur drama is A few days before the Original that it doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you do for a living. The only thing that matters is Playwriting Competition I was asked for the that you love entertaining people and that you cheques for the winner and the two runners up. are good on the stage. Am Dram brings together Well, as the West Somerset Railway had its people from all walks of life. We try to reflect Annual Spring Gala running that weekend and I that in the pages of Spotlight. As well as had a close friend staying for a week and other reporting amateur drama throughout Somerset friends staying locally I could not attend the we endeavour to cover all aspects of the theatre competition. Anyway these plans had been made from high drama to farce to panto to musicals to back last October. you-name-it. We also seek to include everyone But how to get the cheques to Jane Edwards? who is involved, not just those treading the Well it was a combination of modern technology boards. That is why we have our Unsung Heroes and steam technology. The arrangements were section and why we encourage readers to send made by email and there was no way I was in their funny recollections for our And Then chancing these cheques to the GPO with little There was the Time… section. guarantee of them arriving in time for the It is great this month to have contributions from competition. So, as I live in Minehead and Jane Richard Derry and Doug Ross and I am lives in Bishops Lydeard, and having written the particularly pleased to have Sue Pomeroy on cheques out I sent them via the West Somerset board writing a regular column. But I would love Railway. The envelope containing the cheques to receive more, to make this a truly communal had OCS (on company service) written on it and publication, reflecting amateur drama in all its Jane's name care of Bishops Lydeard signal box. I guises right across Somerset. took it to Minehead station and handed it to the guard on the next up train which luckily was my So if you have a story to tell please get . friend Ted who also acts as front of House at the In the last year we have covered anniversaries, Regal Theatre, Minehead. Then I rang Bishops start-ups, training sessions, jolly japes, rehearsal Lydeard signal box (I know the majority of the reminiscences, as well as all the SFD signalmen having just 'retired' after 25 years competitions and committee musings. But there doing said job) and luckily Nick Budd was on is always room for more. duty and realised what needed doing. We have had no recent recommendations for So when Jane called in to BL signal box later in Unsung Hero. Is there nobody in your society the day the cheques were there to be collected. I who you think deserves a bit of recognition and must place on record a thank you to the staff and thanks? This month there are no letters and no volunteers on the WSR. reviews. So, come on, get pen to paper (or finger to keyboard), get that story to me and let’s make this a monthly publication for everyone. Even inventors of the Word Wide Web!

2 All England Drama Festival One Act Quarter Finals The Wessex Division Quarter Finals of the All-England One Act Play Festival were held this year in the Merlin Theatre, Frome. As hosts, Somerset were invited to enter the top two plays chosen by the adjudicator at the Somerset heat from a total entry of eight plays. The two plays going through were Limb of Snow performed by the St Gregory Players directed by Liz Brown, and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Act 1 performed by Troupers from Frome and directed by Philip de Glanville. In the quarter finals, held on Saturday 13th April, they were up against Hang Lenny Pope by Chris O’Connell performed by Blakehay Actor’s’ Company from Weston-Super-Mare and and Melody by Dierdre Kinahan performed by St Ursula Players from Westbury-on-Trym. If the Merlin Theatre was sparsely attended for Holly McPhee-Clarke, Richard Thomas and the afternoon session, it was certainly bustling Tina Waller in Troupers production of A Day for the evening session when, of course, the in the Death of Joe Egg. results are announced. There were two awards. The Adjudicator’s Award (which, according to adjudicator Mike Kaiser can be “for anything, killing of his girlfriend. The relationship between really) went to Peter Nicholl of Blakehaye the dead son (both as a ghost and in flashback) Actors’ Company for his very fine portrayal of and his father was brilliantly depicted Ray in Hang Lenny Pope. deservedly earning the Adjudicator’s Award for The overall winner, going through to the semi- Peter Nicholl as the father. But the key finals, was A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Act 1. As relationship was that of the mother and father in the heats, the two main protagonists put in whose whole life was falling apart as we splendid performances which had the audience watched. enthralled from the beginning. Despite its deep Melody, the first of the evening performances, and dark themes, this play provided many laughs was about the burgeoning relationship between and the two main characters played by Richard two workers in Dublin who meet at lunchtime on Thomas and Tina Waller, as well as the 10-year- a park bench while listening to the music in the old Jo played by Holly McPhee-Clarke, put in bandstand. The play takes both comic and brilliant performances. poignant turns with as these two likeable The four plays all had small casts of two, three or characters’ relationship develops and then four and, although the settings were very varied falters before being happily revived. in both time and place (from the wilds of And the final offering was the eventual winner, A America in the 1890s through England in the late Day in the Death of Joe Egg Act 1 (see review 60s to modern day Dublin) in the end all the Spotlight April 2013) about the relationship plays were about relationships. between the parents of a young girl suffering The opening play on Saturday afternoon, Limb of from severe cerebral palsy in the sixties before Snow (see review Spotlight April 2013), was the days of political correctness. about the strained but ultimately loving Although there were plenty of laughs to be had relationship between a husband and wife cut off throughout the day, it was a day of thought- by snow in their rugged cabin in the High Sierras provoking drama and tense emotions. The where they were gold prospecting. This was overall standard was very high. followed by Hang Lenny Pope, a play set in the Details of the next stage are on page 7. hopeless world of a dysfunctional family whose son has just been murdered following his own

3 Sue Pomeroy is a member of Bridgwater Fundraising Amateur Operatic Society and author of the biography of Brian Buttle Adventures in the Playground. This is the ʻOutside The Boxʼ first of a regular feature in Spotlight where By Sue Pomeroy she turns her thoughts to all things theatrical. n these financially austere times, I loss on Sondheim’s Company in the autumn and presenting plays and musicals is becoming even larger loss on Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd this increasingly expensive and audience figures spring. For those with a financial head, you are appear to be diminishing. Therefore many clubs forgiven for asking why two Sondheim risky shows and societies are looking for alternative ways of back to back? Well Sondheim is another story for ‘balancing the books’. another time! We all worked hard at the jazz night Years ago fundraising ideas consisted of short but had fun too. bursts… jumble sales, raffles, sponsored walks and September 2012 was the ‘big one’; we booked the ‘socials’. Even the few pounds raised by a weekly services of the internationally famous Black Dyke rehearsal draw for a bottle of cheap ‘plonk’ was Band. We are very lucky to have ‘contacts’ on our deemed very worthwhile. The money dribbled in, Management Committee and the society everyone had fun, but the financial rewards were successfully presented a ‘super duper’ concert poor against the time expended by so many people. giving folk a chance to hear a world famous brass Gradually the fund raisers in my society decided band in their own back yard. Tickets were priced at that the money was not worth the effort and it a reasonable £15 and they flew out of the door, would have been more cost effective if they all put with brass band supporters and ‘blowers’ across in £50 at the start of the season as they spent more the West Country eager for a reserved seat. Much than that at coffee mornings, bric-a-brac sales, of this was ‘new money’ money, for although many sponsorship etc. of our regular’s supported the event, the bulk was Today people expect so much more from their from people who never come to our productions. leisure time. We have nightclubs for social Our hard working publicity manager (ex trumpeter) activities, eBay for second hand sales and the worked tirelessly to arrange the booking and also National Lottery. Additionally people are time poor obtain sponsorship for all the costs. Through and cannot commit to anything except rehearsals everyone’s efforts we raised in excess of £5,000, and even then it’s difficult getting the cast to attend which enabled BAOS to deliver a small profit on the regularly. year. Yes it was hard work - a lunch for forty to fifty My own society, Bridgwater Amateur Operatic band and sponsors was prepared and served. Members Society, is no exception …many of our productions acted as stewards, car-parking attendants and makes a loss, so other means have to be found to programme sellers. Ice cream, soft drinks, teas and replace the deficit. Songs from the Shows used to be coffee and homemade cake were sold in the interval. a sure fire winner and was repeated annually with Although there was considerable advance preparation great financial success... but again the work for the event, the majority of the helpers were able to involved ‘by few for the many’ was astronomical. assist with this fundraising on just one day. So two years ago the Management Committee This year we are presenting the Treorchy Male Choir decided to think ‘outside the box’ and discovered at the Bridgwater Town Hall in October... famous for that one large event…one big push by the their wonderful Welsh voices, but also known for members, bringing in a good profit, was preferable their ‘afterglow’ sing-along’s with many of the thirsty to lots of small efforts bringing in small amounts. audience, in the bar, after the concert. Please don’t think I am decrying small amounts… Therefore ‘think big’. It will be hard work over a after all £1 raised is £1 off the cost of the show! Just few days, but it will be worth it… our futures rely call the new thinking modern time management. on such activities and actually we might just find In September 2011 we booked a well-known jazz we enjoy the companionship and camaraderie of a group called New Orleans Heat and arranged a jazz successful fund raising enterprise with hard night - cabaret style in a local school. With a pay earned large financial rewards! bar (profits shared with a local carnival club) and a generous ploughman’s supper we sold enough Contact Sue at [email protected]. tickets to cover the costs and make a substantial Or purchase her book at: profit for the society. This helped offset our small www.adventuresintheplayground.com

4 Phoebe Rees Committee Cuttings This year’s Phoebe Rees evening will be at the he SFD committee met at Ruishton Shrubbery in Ilminster as previously reported. T There had been some concern that the venue might th Village hall on 10 April. My scribbled jottings of not be available but this proved to be unfounded. the meeting are set out below. As ever, they are not The committee discussed a letter about societies intended to be comprehensive and the verified whose productions did not qualify for the Phoebe notes will have to await the committee’s approval Rees but still wanted an adjudication. It was agreed of the published minutes! that a reduced fee would be applicable. The Treasurer’s Report committee expressed their gratitude to Hilary May The Treasure confirmed that the SFD remains on a who has had the Phoebe Rees Trophy refurbished. sound financial footing. He expressed some Website concern over a recent cheque for a substantial sum There will be a meeting in the near future to which had bounced. He is chasing this up. review the website. Original Playwriting Competition Entries for this year’s competition are beginning to come in. Entrants are reminded that entries should Committee Letter about the be sent to the address on the entry form as it is David Beach Competition important to retain anonymity. County Drama Festival David Beach Competition The committee agreed that this year’s festival was I am writing to tell you about some changes we are a success and the idea of staging the original plays making to the David Beach Competition panel. The as part of the festival is working well. The raffle Coordinator is now Di Dean and she will be your money has been distributed among the successful main point of contact for all matters relating to the groups to help their finances as they proceed in the competition. All England Competition. Former Adjudicator Ian Hurdman takes over as Cinderella Trophy Moderator and he, together with experienced Arrangements are well in hand, but the grand Adjudicator Ron Roberts, will provide continuity. piano will not be available for the cabaret so The format of the competition will remain unaltered. groups will have to bring their own keyboards. The SFD committee would like to thank the members David Beach Competition of the team who are stepping down for all their hard Expressions of concern have been received both work in the past. verbally and in writing about some aspects of the If you have any queries regarding your adjudication David Beach Presentation Evening. The committee for 2013, Di Dean will be pleased to answer them. agreed that the venue (The County Cricket Ground) Kind Regards is excellent and the food was good, but aspects of Pat Sollis the overall style of the evening will be reviewed. SFD Secretary

Fellowship Committee

Chair David Jenkins 01278 786501 [email protected] Vice-chair Di Dean 01458 250852 [email protected] Secretary Pat Sollis 01823 490750 [email protected] Treasurer Richard Derry 01643 705245 [email protected] Website Philip de Glanville 01373 451680 [email protected] Itʼs Curtains! Spotlight Sam Allen 01823 322600 [email protected] Wincanton Amateur Membership Sherry Briggs 01458 273476 [email protected] Dramatic Society need to Originals Jane Edwards 01823 322440 [email protected] update their curtains and County Drama Philip de Glanville 01373 451680 [email protected] are looking for advice and Training Vacancy Phoebe Rees Anna Bowerman 01460 57857 [email protected] guidance on best buys. Can Cinderella Sam Nicol 01278 765912 [email protected] you help? If so Please David Beach Di Dean 01458 250852 [email protected] contact Jayne Bentley on Youth Vacancy 01963 824863 or email Sponsorship Ron Roberts 01458 241374 [email protected] [email protected]

5

hates the idea of playing Hamlet May 29th – June 1st What’s On… in the Park, but Deidre, his DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE fiancé loves the idea of him BEAST playing this coveted role and Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by April refuses to sleep with him unless Howard Ashman and Tim Rice he does. They decide to hold a Wells Little Theatre Youth séance and who should appear April 30th – May 4th Company but the ghost of John Barrymore, Wells Little Theatre at 7.30pm. ANYTHING GOES who in his time was said to be the By Cole Porter Sat matinee 2.00pm definitive Hamlet. In a series of This ‘tale as old as time’ is filled Tickenham Drama Group wild and wonderful events, he with spectacular costumes, music Tickenham Village Hall at sets about solving everyone’s and dances and our talented 7.45pm problems. company of 46 youngsters age 6 A tale of romance on the high BOX OFFICE: Lanes Garden – 20 can’t wait to share the seas with music by Cole Porter Shop, Ilminster, 01943 779880 magic with you. including hit songs ‘You’re at the Directed by Sarah Neale top’ and ‘I get a kick out of you’. May 15th – 18th BOX OFFICE: 01749 672280 It’s not a show to miss! THE DINING ROOM David Beach entry Directed by Alexander By AR Gurney Jr Turasiewicz BOX OFFICE: TO FOLLOW C.U.D.O.S. June www.tickenhamdrama.org.uk Victoria Hall, Crewkerne at David Beach entry 7.30pm June 6th – 8th In this humorous and touching SFD concessions STRICTLY SEX work, six actors each perform several characters in a series of FACTOR ON ICE May interrelated vignettes, portraying By David Tristram the lives of a vanishing species: Civic Players Yeovil May 7th – 11th the upper middle-class white Swan Theatre, Yeovil at 7.45pm OLIVER! American. Three exceptionally funny one act comedies by David Tristram. by Lionel Bart Directed by Greg Groves Directed by Andrew Meadows WAA BOX OFFICE: 01460 74380 BOX OFFICE: 01935 421771 Operatic Society Phoebe Rees Entry www.civicplayersyeovil.co.uk The Wellesley, Wellington SFD Concessions at 7.30pm , Sat matinee 2.30pm th th Full of great songs, sadness and May 21st – 25th June 6 – 8 laughter, this well loved musical A LAUGHING MATTER DAD’S ARMY provides quality entertainment By April de Angelis By Jimmy Perry & David Croft for the whole family. Our strong Roadwater Players Porlock Pantomime & cast will have you transfixed Roadwater Village Hall at Drama Society right from the start! 7.30pm Porlock Village Hall at 7.30pm BOX OFFICE: 01823 663597 A comedy about theatre Plus Sat matinee at 2.30pm Directed by John Walker companies’ dilemma - how to Join captain Mainwaring and the David Beach Entry keep audience, actors and writers rest of the Walmington-on-Sea SFD Concessions happy and the theatre standing. Home Guard for plenty of laughs Written in 2002; set in 1773 at in three full-length episodes. Why May 8th -11th the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. not come dressed for the period? I HATE HAMLET Directed by Patrick Marshall BOX OFFICE: 01643 863150 by Paul Rudnick BOX OFFICE: www.wegotickets.com/porlockdrama

www.roadwaterplayers.org IES Phoebe Rees Entry The Warehouse Theatre, SFD Concessions Ilminster Andrew Rally, a young and well- known actor, fresh and rich from a long standing TV series, is persuaded to move into an What did they say…? apartment which once belonged to the late, great actor John “Drama is life with the Barrymore. Also, to take the part dull bits cut out.” of Hamlet in a prestigious Central Park production. He - Alfred Hitchcock Cont…

6 th th June 6 – 8 THE EX-FACTOR What’s On… By Ian Hornby The All-England Continued Bradford Players Theatre Festival Bradford-on-Tone Village Hall at Keep your What’s On notices 7.30pm Western Area Semi Final at the coming. It would be great to Phil and Jane are trying to get Athenaeum Warminster, on keep publishing what is their new bed and breakfast at th happening three months in Saturday 18 May, adjudicated by advance to give SFD their farm accredited. The Robert Meadows, GODA members a chance to buy inspector is due and turns out to tickets before they are all sold be none other than Phil's ex wife 2.15pm and 7.00pm out! - and this is only one of the Send your details to: problems! [email protected] BOX OFFICE: 01880852202

Auditions

Peter Wintle, of Street Theatre, is thrilled that, Street Theatre has acquired special permission to stage Pater Shaffer’s acclaimed play Equus in November. It is a dark story about a psychiatrist investigating the savage blinding of six horses by a 17-year-old youth. As he exposes the truths behind the boy's demons, he finds himself face- to-face with his own. The play needs competent and confident actors throughout. There are no easy or throwaway roles! It is essential that the tension of the piece is maintained throughout and even the certain level of cover. Every consideration will be supporting roles carry great weight. That is why given to ensuring the actors feel comfortable on Peter Wintle, who is directing the play, is intent on stage. casting actors with the potential to fulfil these The nude scene is absolutely essential to the demanding roles. Although the boy in the play is events that lead to the atrocity committed by Alan seventeen, all the cast must be at least eighteen and is not gratuitous in any way. Clearly, our actors years of age. This production offers amazingly high will have to pay close attention to how these profile roles, particularly for a male actor in his late scenes are executed to make them work effectively teens or into his twenties. and to preserve the integrity of the piece. The other roles, male and female, range in age So, if you are interested in being a part of this from teens to middle age. Although casting is ambitious piece of theatre, you can obtain more taking place now, there’ll be no further details from Peter Wintle or attend the play commitment from actors until rehearsals begin in reading at 7.30pm in the Mad Hatter Café at the September on Mondays and Thursdays. Crispin Hall in Street on Wed 8th May at 7.30pm. Equus has become well known for the male and female nudity in the two short closing scenes. If you would like to borrow a script, want to audition for any It is true that the failed lovemaking scene between of the roles in Equus or if you would like any further information, please contact the showʼs Director: Alan and Jill will feature in this production but it Peter Wintle will take place in very low light and haze, and in an Director, Equus atmosphere of high anxiety for Alan. Whilst the 1 Pine Close, STREET, Somerset, BA16 0RS. audience will be aware that they’re without Landline: 01458 841552 clothes, their placement and action will provide a Mobile: 07759 730355 email: [email protected]

7 The Barnstormersʼ Doug Ross explains how the Barnstormers origins are intertwined with the Minehead and Festival Roots for Exmoor Festival and why it is fitting that the Barnstormers are returning to their Mineheadʼs Barnstormers roots to help the Festival celebrate its By Doug Ross fiftieth anniversary

The Festival Players were formed in 2010, with the planned closure of The Regal 1972 to provide a dramatic production for the Theatre for the Lift Project, we returned to our annual Minehead & Exmoor Festival. As the Barnstorming tradition with the joint group continued, it was felt that they would like Barnstormers Minehead Youth Theatre to perform more often than once a year, and to production of Tess of the d’Urbervilles. take their productions to a wider audience than lthough our audiences enjoy comedies and we that of Minehead. A like performing them, Barnstormers have always So it was in 1979, the founder and leader of the maintained a variety of drama with plays such as Festival Players, Wilf Smith, with the support and Whose Life is it Anyway?, The Roses of Eyam, The backing of John Lynn, founded the Barnstormers. Visit, Uncle Vanya, Sweet Panic, Death and The In the early days they took their productions to a Maiden, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, An wide variety of venues: their first production Hay Inspector Calls and Tess of the D’Urbervilles as Fever, was presented in Minehead, Porlock, well as more challenging types of comedy such as Lynton, Roadwater and Brendon. The Public Eye One for the Road and Loot, all out farce like See and Dock Brief, which were done as a double bill, How They Run and comedy drama such as The added St. Audries Holiday Village to the list of Ghost Train. venues. Charlie’s Aunt was presented in n view of our origins, it is fitting that in 2013 Minehead, Porlock and St. Audries School, with I the original Jubilee Bus pressed into service to The Barnstormers are presenting The Lion, The th transport the set. As the variety of plays Witch & The Wardrobe as part of the 50 presented and the complexity of sets increased, it Anniversary celebrations of the Minehead & became impracticable to travel to other venues, Exmoor Festival. and we have concentrated on raising our The company looks forward to maintaining a production values at The Regal Theatre. In March varied programme of drama.

8 Every long-running society has its fair share of amusing anecdotes and embarrassing moments as our popular “and then there was the time” section shows. Barnstormers are And then there was the time… no exception as these reminiscences of By Doug Ross Doug Ross demonstrate

…we discovered all the world’s a stage! manager had had some trouble with local youths Our first touring production, Hay Fever, was in and had locked the door. He assumed my frantic the tiny Devonshire village of Brendon. The banging was them messing about, and so the Village Hall was beside the East Lynn River. We audience sat in darkness and increasing arrived in the evening to “get in” to find men from frustration. Eventually he came to tell them to the council in waders sticking long poles in the clear off, and I finally made my entrance. river and saying, “You might be all right. It’s …we were at a difficult stage probably not going to come over this evening.” When we did Birthday Honours, our three nights When we got into the village hall, the stage was in Minehead were fine, but before we went to TINY and we couldn’t really set the scene on it. Porlock one of our leading actresses, Joan However, the audience turned out to be so tiny as Passmore, had been knocked down by a well that we put them on the stage and motorbike and was in hospital. My wife offered performed in the body of the hall! to read in the part, and spent the two days …we interrupted good drinking time! available familiarising herself with the moves, but When we performed the double bill Dock Brief & had no hope of learning the words. She had not The Public Eye one of our venues was St. seen the Porlock stage before. When the time Audrey’s Bay holiday camp. It turned out that came for her entrance, being used to the Regal their Saturday night cabaret had let them down, stage, she walked straight out of the wings with and in desperation they had booked us instead. her nose in the book and had nearly walked We performed on a stage at one end of their straight off the front edge of the stage when a entertainments hall. The hall was hung with fellow actor stopped her. large cut-out dwarves left over from a previous …we were proper Charlies! event, which cast interesting shadows in our The following year we did the classic comedy stage lighting. The audience were sat convivially Charley’s Aunt, to be directed by our leader Wilf round tables and the bar at the far end was open Smith. He was taken very ill during the rehearsal throughout the performance. Thus our dialogue period and left instructions for me to take over. I was perpetually punctuated by enquiries as to was playing the manservant to the 2 whether someone wanted another drink, and protagonists. So I sat out the front of rehearsals entreaties to change their mind if they refused; saying my lines and directing everyone else’s after a bit, it was we who could have done with a movements. It wasn’t until the dress rehearsal drink or two! Outside, we could hear the cheery that I realised I had not directed any movement voices of children playing, occasionally rising to for myself; and I had to lay quite a complicated cries and shouts when the play got too dinner and clear it away. Nonetheless, it went boisterous, and the injured party would come well at Minehead, but when we got to Porlock, the screaming into the hall. I don’t believe anyone young man playing Fancourt Babberly (a man there had ever seen a play before, and did not who dresses up as the eponymous Aunt) had a understand a word of either play. But they stomach bug. He lasted two minutes on stage and clapped very politely at the end. then rushed off, unable to continue. Hilary May …I was left out in the cold was prompting and offered to read in his part. So When we did Arms and the Man, I played now we had a woman dressed up as a man Bluntschli, “the Swiss “consummate soldier”. Wilf dressed up as a woman! I had my own part to Smith thought it a good idea for me to make my play and was waiting in the wings at the point of first entrance running breathlessly from the back the pay where Fancourt Babberly finding himself of the auditorium and up on to the stage. This alone for the first time, lights a much-needed went well at Minehead, but not so well at Porlock cigar. Suddenly, the audience burst in gales of Village Hall. I had to go from the basement laughter at a point where there was nothing to dressing room out through the boiler room which laugh at! I found out later that Hilary, clearly the cast were on strict instructions to lock after unused to lighting cigars, had somehow managed me to prevent intruders. So far so good. When I to bend the cigar in a right angle while lighting it, got to the front door of the Hall, it was locked! I and was smoking what looked like a railway knocked; no answer. I didn’t know that the FoH engine funnel!

9 At Last the Secret is out: We reveal what Pantomime Horses get up to out of Season! From flat racing to show jumping, dressage to best groomed, with awards in all disciplines. Any four-legged pantomime creature can enter for a shot at the crown. So if you’ve tearfully packed your pantomime animals back into storage after a successful show this season, spare them a thought – potentially being forgotten about for 9 months or longer before they are needed on stage Ever wondered what pantomime again. Reward them for their latest outstanding performance on your stage by allowing them to horses get up to out of season? Well now we can roam free with other animals of like mind, whom shed some light…. for the last three years, various they may never otherwise meet, and compete in pantomime horses, cows, zebras, camels, even a the challenge of champions at this annual event. giraffe!, have been spotted competing in a small Make a pantomime animal’s life worth more than village on the Devon/Somerset border. Since just treading the boards and bring them out in 2009 Pantomime animals have started to migrate the September sun, to Chardstock Street Fayre to Chardstock, for the annual Great Panto Horse and the Great Panto Horse Derby, which will take Derby. Where, under the watchful eye of CADS place on Saturday 7th September 2013. (Chardstock Amateur Dramatic Society) and professional judges from the world of Horses & Pantomime, they compete in various disciplines For more details contact CADS via email: to be crowned the overall best in show! – SFD’s [email protected] or download an very own Ron Roberts has been spotted entry form from the moonlighting as a judge! www.chardstockstreetfayre.co.uk

Comments from last yearʼs winning entry: Straight from the horseʼs mouth!

“The Panto Horse Derby was a great event to take part in. We had to do a lot of things to be able to win. Before the Horse Derby we had to design our costume. Our theme was The Olympics but there were many other pantomime creatures like cows, zebras, a very tall giraffe and lots more! There were four events to be taken place: Catwalk, Dancing, Running, Obstacle Course. They were all really fun to take part in. The Obstacle Course was our favourite event because youʼd never think that a panto horse would jump over beams, Olympic Rings or even jump a water jump! Before these events though, we paraded through the village to show off our horses, creatures etc. It was great to show off our horses to all the villagers. The Horse Derby was incredibly fun but tiring at the same time. We will definitely do it again next year, but the main thing is that we all had a great time!” Katie 12, Jessica 10.

10 From the Brewhouse to the RSC Barrie Palmer is living his dream For many years Barrie Palmer was a familiar face on the stage in Somerset. As an amateur thespian, Barrie trod the boards with Taunton Amateur Operatic Society (TAOS), the wayfarers and Taunton Thespians. And when he was not in the limelight he acted as stage manager, helped out at the County Drama Festival and even ran the costume store at Taunton Thespians for a couple of years. And he did all this at the same time as holding down a full-time job as a policeman. But Barrie had a dream. As so many of us are, Barrie had been bitten by the acting bug. But Barrie dreamed of turning pro and, unlike most of us, he had the determination to turn his dream into reality and, when he retired some ten years ago, he did just that.. Barrie’s ventures into the world of theatre started very early. “I started acting at school in Bath,” he says, “even playing Bill Sykes in Oliver.” He enjoyed the stage so much that he then joined the Bodlets, the young peoples section of BODS (Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society). But, as is the way with these things, his early career meant a break when he joined the police and was stationed in Taunton in the early seventies. But necessary skills, be seen and get a London agent.” then, in February 1979, he spotted an advert in But after auditioning for seven drama schools and the Somerset County Gazette for people to join being offered a two-year course at Webber TAOS. “I contacted the secretary, Sam Bond. He Douglas in London, Barrie realised that the costs said in April they were doing The Dancing Years would be prohibitive. He told me that, “with and would I be interested in that? I was!” And so accommodation, food, fees and so on it would started a new chapter in Barrie’s performing have cost about £40,000.” career. “I went on to perform in both TAOS shows And also, it wasn’t his first choice. “I really each year for quite some time. I then joined the wanted to go to The Bristol Old Vic Theatre Wayfarers pantomime society and the Thespians School. Apart from being one of the top three and was lucky enough to get some good parts.” schools in the country (people like Daniel Day- But the amateur stage wasn’t enough to satisfy Lewis went there) it is part of the Conservatoire Barrie’s love of the stage. Whilst still in the police and when I went the fee was just £1100. he did stand-up comedy at Mark Randall’s But simply wanting to be at the Old Vic isn’t holiday centre in West Somerset and got his enough. There is a rigorous auditioning process provisional Equity card. He then went on to do before anyone is accepted, as Barrie explained. extra work on programmes like Casualty, French The auditions at Bristol and most other schools and Saunders, Jonathon Creek and Silent Witness, work like this: on your first visit you have a where on occasions he also advised on set which fifteen-minute audition with a senior staff led to him eventually getting a full Equity card. member and usually a past student (about 1500 And more importantly, this involvement with the people go through this each year at Bristol alone). professionals fuelled Barrie’s desire to make You must prepare for performance a two-minute acting more than just a hobby. “While working on monologue of Shakespeare and two minutes of a these TV programmes, watching the actors, I contemporary play followed by a song, thought, I could do that!” But he knew that unaccompanied. If you get through that you are wanting to do it wasn’t enough. He had to work recalled for a weekend school (300 people attend hard to make his dreams a reality. “I decided to these). You are put into groups of six and do a go to drama school so that I would learn the round robin to five staff members. You have a

11 dance and fitness class; a singing and movement characters in each play and you had to be up to class; and a voice and tongue-twister class. You speed by the first preview. The shows went on to work with a director who gets you to look at your Newcastle and The West End.” pieces in a different way (they want to know that But, such is the way with the professional you can take direction and adapt). You then have theatre, that it proved not all to be plain sailing another class doing a sight reading, working with from then on. Barrie then another applicant. At the end of that the staff get hit a lean time doing together to decide who they will make offers to.” auditions but with not It wasn’t all plain sailing for Barrie, but it showed much happening. But, his determination. “My first attempt at Bristol true to form, he failed, I felt it was to do with my fitness, so I went persevered. to the gym 3 times a week for a year and the “Then all of a sudden following year I was accepted for the one year things picked up again course.” and I toured for a total of Victoria Wood arrie’s dedication and hard work had paid off Photo: Steve Joyce / B 75 weeks over four tours MAG and he continued working hard until he as Stan in Victoria graduated in July 2004. This is when you hope Wood’s dinnerladies, which was amazing and that you will get interest from the professionals. great fun. We had three of the original TV cast in Barrie expanded on the process. “You do a the show and met Victoria on a couple of showcase at the Criterion theatre in Piccadilly, to occasions. I now also have a voiceover agent and which 400 agents, casting directors and have done some voiceovers and last year had a producers attend. Prior to this showcase, in the couple of parts on Ambridge Extra (the digital last term, casting directors and agents come to offshoot of ) on Radio 4 Extra. I have the school and you perform for them.” One of the also done a number of really good corporate people who came to the school in the March was films.” Hannah Miller who was then the casting It is clear that Barrie is a very determined man. coordinator for the RSC (she is now head of Not content with the opportunities that the casting there). She called me in May and asked industry offered, Barrie decided to create his own me to audition for a tour of Two Gentlemen of opportunities. “In 2010 along with a friend I Verona and Julius Caesar. I had a total of four formed my own theatre Company called GB auditions in London and Bristol. In July I was told Theatre Company. We specialise in classical that unfortunately I didn’t fit into the twenty theatre outdoors, mainly Shakespeare. Last year actor ensemble mix, but that she would call me Jack Shepherd, who played Supt Wycliffe in the again. You think, yeah right! But she did.” TV series, directed The Tempest for me. This year This was just the opening Barrie had been we will be performing A Midsummer Night’s looking for. “After the showcase at the Criterion I Dream and The Merchant of Venice. had offers from four agents and signed with one. I All of which is a far cry from the Bodlets in Bath! had various auditions, did a couple of short films, Barrie reflects on the change in his life from being a commercial and a part on Eastenders. Then in a policeman with a hobby steeped in amateur December, just six months after leaving Bristol I theatre. “It is a strange life, and you have to get again had auditions for the RSC, this time with used to having tens of auditions in a year for TV, Michael Boyd, the then artistic director. Three stage, commercials etc and maybe getting days later I was given a 15-month contract with nothing. But I wouldn’t change a thing. I love it the RSC performing in Twelfth Night directed by and it’s the best thing I ever did. I felt it was no Michael Boyd and As You Like It directed by good saying ‘What if’. If you want something Dominic Cooke. We had three months of (within reason) you can get it. If I can do it, rehearsals in Clapham, London. Not only did we anyone can!!” rehearse Twelfth Night but had all sorts of classes in text, puppetry, movement, voice etc, with some Not everyone has Barrie’s talent and tenacity, of of the best tutors in the world! We then went to course, but it is great to see someone who is Stratford Upon Avon for seven months. Once we living their dream. got Twelfth Night up and running we started to rehearse As You Like It. Not only did we do our own parts but also understudied two main You can find out more about Barrie by visiting the GB Theatre Company Website at www.gbtheatrecompany.com

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