|
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens Under Milk Wood - Dylan Thomas
|
page last updated 07/08/2010 RTG Newsletter – August 2010 OUTSTANDING It
would be extremely difficult for anyone who witnessed the Youth Group production
for this year of ‘Panel Games’ and ‘Slug Wars’ to not be impressed by
the exuberance and professionalism shown by all concerned.
The standard of acting was excellent and although it would be unfair to
single out individual performances there were some that were simply exquisite.
Two very different themes, powerful drama and comedic joy entertained those
present.
Congratulations
to Anne-Marie and John for directing such different but entertaining
productions.
RTG2 GHOSTLY
GOINGS ON AT THE VILLAGE HALL The September production of “Laying the Ghost” has now been cast and
rehearsals are well under way. Performance dates are 23rd, 24th
and 25th September at 7.30pm, tickets are £7. THE
BIG CLEAR OUT!! A big clear out of the RTG garage is planned. Vehicles will be needed to
ferry rubbish to the nearest tip in an effort to reorganise the garage and to
clear out anything that is not now required. We may discover some interesting things like previous members of the
group who have not been seen for a while, props that were thought lost and the
car that was originally in the garage when RTG took it over. When we put
everything back Ken will treat us all to a lesson in spatial awareness or how to
get something that measures 6 x 4 into a space that measures 2 x 3. Seriously though we need all the help we can get so even if you can spare
an hour or less it would be appreciated.
IT’S
THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN PLAY
DATABASE RTG
keep a play database currently updated by Julie. The original database was
compiled by John and is a record of plays he has read or been involved in
reading. The
play is identified by title, author, genre, and has the number of cast members,
male and female. It is an excellent way to keep a running record of plays and a
good reference for RTG to return to if looking for a suitable play. If
you wish to add to the RTG Database just send Julie an Email on jules.cox@ntlworld.com
including the details of the play required for the database and it can be added
to the list. Gruesome Theatre Fact In ancient Roman plays, if a character had to die, actors were replaced by convicted rapists, and murderers who were then killed on stage!!!! *
Finally RTG
would like to welcome new member Shaza Mark to the group.
RTG Newsletter – June 2010 Annual
General Meeting Carole
covered aspects of the last three productions
and what she envisaged for the future of the group. Carole has done a sterling
job as chairman and the group readily showed their appreciation. Terry
Cox asked to be considered for the role of chairman and was nominated and
seconded into the role. The other elected officers and committee members are as
follows: Jo
Thomas and Chris Breach are to share the role of treasurer and Julie
Cox and Hazel O’Connell are to share secretary duties. The other members of
the committee are:
Mark Breach, Ken Cumberpatch, Jose Kinnaird, Richard Kinnaird and John
Birch.
Betty
Kirk Award The
winner of this year’s Betty Kirk award for best performance was Richard
Kinnaird for his truly memorable performance as King Oedipus. Chris
Breach was a deserving winner of The
Founder Members Trophy (presented by Shelia Cross) for her contribution towards
RTG over the years.
Laying
the ghost The play revolves around the residents of Yew Tree House
retirement home. Margot Buchanan is not looking forward to her 70th
birthday, particularly as her ex-husband - renowned actor Leo Buchanan – is in
the papers again, all for the wrong reasons. Her friend Frieda’s psychic
ramblings and the unexpected appearance of Leo’s current wife Judy confound
issues. The appearance of an
aspiring young actress who has a dubious connection to Leo also adds to the
mayhem. The main parts of Margot and Leo have been cast but Graham still needs actors for the part of Frieda (Elderly lady) and Lady Buchanan (Between 40 to 50 years of age). If you are interested in either part please contact Graham Smith as soon as possible A
Change for January 2011 John
Birch has put himself forward to direct January’s production and would welcome
ideas on possible scripts. Youth
Group
RTG Newsletter – April 2010 RTG
Youth Group We have
some important news about this year’s Youth Group production, due to NANDA canceling
this year’s Youth Theatre Festival due to a poor response from local theatre
groups. It has been decided to hold the Youth Group’s planned productions on
Friday 9th and Saturday 10th July 7.30pm at the Village
Hall Ravenshead instead. This will replace their normal November production. John, Ann
Marie and Mandy did not want to waste all the time spent rehearsing and the
obvious enthusiasm of those involved. RYTG will be performing two, one act plays
“Panel Games’ by Eileen Brandon, a serious thought provoking piece about
Euthanasia (directed by Ann Marie)
and "Slug Wars – a cabbage too far", written and directed by John
Birch, a fast moving zany piece about you’ve guessed it Slugs and Cabbages! Tickets go
on sale from 24th May. John and Ann Marie are looking for help
backstage, interested please ring John on 01623 793827. Make
way for the King! Where
in the World? RTG now has a small presence on Wikipedeia; just enter Ravenshead Theatre Group into the search. Pantomime
or Play? Thank you to everyone who returned the
questionnaire sheets or sent their views on an E mail or letter saying whether
RTG should continue with the Pantomime format for its January production or
switch to a ‘Family – Friendly’ type play instead. The results are quite interesting and
will be discussed at this year’s Annual General Meeting which is to be on
Wednesday 16th June 8.00pm in the Brammer Room. Voting forms for this year’s Betty
Kirk Award will be sent out by The performances to be considered are
from, ‘Gym and Tonic’, ‘Bluebeard’ and ‘Oedipus the King’ To keep with the Greek Theme
here’s a question. (Send me back the answer or
let me know and you will go into a prize draw to be drawn at the AGM) Where did the epic battle take place
between 300 Spartans and a Persian force of over a million? A)
Thermoplae B)
Carthage C)
Athens D)
Troy E)
Bridlington
RTG Newsletter – February 2010 Bluebeard the Magnificent! It
has to be acknowledged that these factors did have an effect on overall tickets
sales; markedly down on last year's figures. However the same cannot be said of
the enthusiasm the group members on and off stage put into the final production. As
with any RTG production the overall effort of all those involved, should be
applauded. Ken
once again did a wonderful job of making the set scenery, being able to
transform market stalls into a double bed (and he does all this on a budget of
£3.50 with the loan of someone else’s hammer). There were some special moments in Bluebeard, too many in fact to mention them all but I will remember Chris’s unflappable professionalism when the stage crew had hard boiled the eggs to be used in the comic cookery scene, also the bed scene and the chase back and forth across stage that followed. Finally Richard and his devotion to keep gluing his beard back on and putting up with the blue dye that kept coming off it turning him into a version of Papa Smurf. Bluebeard despite its initial problems was a true success and everyone concerned worked very hard to make it so. What then next year? We shall see. Well Done! Greek Classic As
you may be aware the RTG June production is to be ‘King Oedipus’ by
Sophocles. The
play is to be directed by Mark Breach who’s past productions include ‘Great
Expectations’ and ‘Under Milk Wood’ and will be performed on the 3rd,
4th and 5th of June 2010. Initial readings have already taken place and auditions are to be on Wednesday 17th February in the lounge area at St Peters Church Hall commencing at 8.00pm. NANDA One Act Plays Abigail’s Party Our very own Jo Thomas is joining Bonnington
Theatre Group to take the lead in ‘Abigail’s Party’, which is to be
performed at the Bonnington Theatre Arnold on April 22nd, 23rd
and 24th. Tickets are £6.00 (no concessions) we would like to get a
group together to go and offer her our support. If interested contact Julie
either at RTG rehearsals or telephone 01623 643517 Finally a warm welcome from RTG to new member Stuart Wells.
RTG Newsletter – December 2009 Wonderful, Wyrd and Wacky Once again the
Youth Group showed its professionalism and versatility with an excellent
performance of Terry Pratchett’s ‘Wryd Sisters’. Christmas Dinner
Bluebeard Looking forward to next year It
can be a challenge to carry on finding new and exciting productions for each
year. For next year we also have the added problem of a general election to
contend with. This could be anytime from May to June with the Village Hall being
used as a Polling Station. The RTG Committee
has taken this into account and several possibilities have been discussed. The
work that RTG2 do each year reading new scripts is also a great help. If any members
are aware of possible plays that could be considered for a future production
then please bring it to the attention of the group.
RTG Newsletter – October 2009 Just the Tonic A
strong cast, excellent backstage and front of house support made this production
a highly enjoyable and memorable experience. Audience reaction too was extremely
positive over the three performance nights. John Godber’s
Gym and Tonic had all the right ingredients for a successful play, the right
balance between comedy, pathos, and some might say, an element of tragedy
(particularly the final scene). It also had some excellent choreographed scenes
(thanks to Mandy) and a soundtrack to rival the best (courtesy of John).
The cast all gave excellent
performances and some even displayed otherwise unknown talents;
Julie for being a
natural masseuse and chiropractor (my neck has never moved as it does now) and
Jo for Cornish Pastie throwing. Never has a pastie been thrown with such force
and accuracy (ask Katie who caught one in the stomach). John
who directed the production was more than happy with the final results. He
acknowledged the hard work put into the production by all involved. He is now
thinking of applying to the BBC to become the new head of Drama, perhaps. See the pictures at Gym & Tonic. Bluebeard As you may
already be aware the next RTG production is to be ‘Bluebeard’ by Paul Reakes.
Initial readings have taken place and already some interesting characters and
equally interesting interpretations have been seen and heard. A
second reading is scheduled for Wednesday 7th with auditions following a week
later on the 14th. Fancy a night out? The
Lace Market Theatre at Nottingham are performing ‘Festen’ by David Eldridge
on the 9th
– 14th November at 7.30.p.m.
See Mark Breach for tickets and more information. The play
witnesses the coming together of a daughter and two sons to their widely
respected father’s 60th birthday. The eldest son's speech rocks the
family, which can never be the same again. The play contains some strong
language and deals with issues that some might find disturbing. Christmas Dinner
This
year’s RTG Christmas Dinner is to be on Thursday 17th December
7.30p.m. At the Little John Public
House Main Road Ravenshead. Something Wryd this way comes RTG Youth Group Present Terry Pratchetts
“The Wryd
Sisters” November 20th and 21st 2009 |