Patrons’Volume 2, Issue 7 | April 2013Newsletter

May Sandy Wilson’s Written by & Connie The Boy Friend 10 Booth Maghull Musical Theatre Company Directed by Les Gomersall By arrangement with Samuel French May 10th - 18th June 12th - 15th Box Office Opens 3rd May Box Office Opens 5th June Carousel Advance Booking on 01695 632372 Diary Birkdale Orpheus Society Coming soon to the Little Theatre Music by Richard Rodgers, book & lyrics by Oscar An Evening of Music with Old Hammerstein II May 25th - June 1st Hall Brass Sunday 16th June 2013 Box office opens 18th May 2013 Advance Booking 01942715684 Acorn Antiques: The Musical Advanced Booking on 01704 564042 Southport Spotlights Musical Theatre Company Damages Music, lyrics and script by Victoria Woods June June 29th - July 6th, Matinee July 6th Written by Stephen Thompson Loreto Bamber Dance Show Directed by Stephen Huges-Alty Box office opens 24th June 2013 4 Friday 21st - 22nd June 2013 Advanced Booking on 07927 331977 An SDC Bar/Studio Production Box Office Opens 20th June June 4th - 8th Advance Booking 01704 538351 Box Office Opens 28th May ‘Fawlty Towers’ A comedy By Les Gomersall, Director In the early 1970s John Cleese was unusual hotelier Donald Sinclair. a member of the highly success- The result of course turned out to ful ’s Flying Circus be Fawlty Towers owned and run team. In May 1971 the team were by the equally unusual, but ex- staying at the Gleneagles Hotel in tremely funny, Basil Fawlty which was owned and run Only 12 episodes were written, by a Mr Donald Sinclair. the first six being shown on BBC2 After a number of problems with between 19 September and 24 Oc- Mr Sinclair the Python team, with tober 1975. The second series was the exception of Cleese, moved to broadcast in 1979. Five episodes a different hotel. Cleese fascinated shown between 19 February and by Mr Sinclair’s obvious dislike of 26 March and the twelfth and final his guests invited his wife, Connie episode not being shown until 25 Booth, to join him so they could October 1979, filming having been Cleese was awarded the Royal Tele- both observe Sinclair’s erratic be- delayed due to industrial action at vision Society Programme Award. haviour. the BBC. The series has now been sold to When Cleese left the Python team Now considered to be one of the 45 television stations in 17 coun- after 3 years he was approached by best sitcoms ever written, initially tries. the BBC who wanted to sign him neither the press nor the public Our season closes with 3 epi- up for his own series. Cleese agreed were impressed. However, having sodes from this iconic series and I to write something with Connie grown in popularity during the sincerely hope you enjoy them as Booth. Both agreed to draw on first series, Fawlty Towers won the much as the cast and I have during their experiences at the Gleneagles 1975 British Academy Award for a hectic but thoroughly enjoyable Hotel and their observations of the Best Comedy series and in 1976 rehearsal period.

Editor Philip Hutchinson | Email: [email protected] Box Office Find out more about us (01704) 530521/530460 www.littletheatresouthport.co.uk Hoghton Street, Southport PR9 0PA Like us on Facebook Southport Little Theatre Buy your programme, just £1, for an exclusive interview with the director Available throughout the theatre

Kevin’s Charity Bike Ride Many of you will recall we recently bought our barman, Kevin Spofforth, a new bike to celebrate 21 years as an employee of Southport Dramatic Club. Kevin has decided to put the bike to good use on a charity bike ride from Sun- derland to Liverpool, starting on 21st April (Everton play Sunderland on 20th April). He has chosen a route of over 200 miles taking in glorious Northern scenery and the scary thought of crossing the Pennines! Kevin’s chosen charity is Everton in the Community, an organisation that has award winning schemes in numerous fields (initiatives at Alder Hay for activi- ties for the children in there, a new scheme to help dementia sufferers, support for servicemen with post trauma problems, disability sports and educational programmes for disadvantaged groups) all on Merseyside. The ride is hoping to raise £50,000 in total. Kevin says “Thanks to Alan Newport & the Little Theatre Bar who along with Davies Maintenance and Camper Shack have sponsored my kit, I shall be proud to wear it on my journey!”

Get involved with the Southport Dramatic Club Acting Set construction The Southport Dramatic Club is always looking for new members. If you want to get involved, there’s sure to be something for you! Backstage Front of house Contact our membership secretary, Lindsay Haywood, on 01704 Barwork and much more... 504800 or on [email protected]

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