C R O A K - Toads Little Theatre › app › download › ... · C R O A K From The Chair Time...
4
C R O A K From The Chair Time marches on! December is upon us and may the fesƟviƟes begin (bah humbug!). Various doorbells should now be working within the theatre – the disabled entrance bell should now ring in the FOH office area as well as directly next to the disabled entrance. Any problems, please let someone know. Our recent quiz night went well and thanks go to Sherry Dudley, John Hall and Al Dunn for organising everything, and to Jackie Tarney for (wo)manning the bar. Don’t forget – we have our annual dinner at Amici’s on 26 th January – please contact Peter Burcher with your choices. Maintenance, as always, have many issues to deal with. Current headaches include trying to work out the best way of extending the tarmac in the main car park, boiler issues, lighƟng replacements within the theatre, etc, etc, etc. We are going to insƟgate some FOH training in the new year (it’s been yonks since we’ve done any). Hopefully, this will refresh people’s knowledge and emphasise the importance of public safety. As always, at this Ɵme of year, the play selecƟon for next season is paramount in most of the commiƩee’s minds – so many criteria to juggle – as you should all be aware by now, we will be performing Allo Allo as a summer season rather than having two summer shows. It’s a risk but if we don’t try something a liƩle bit different, we’ll never know if it works or not. AudiƟons will be held in the new year – watch this space! Finally, I’d like to wish all our member a merry chrisƟnglemas and a happy new year (extra bah humbug!). Eat and drink lots! Jon Manley (chair bloke) Welcome… Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas BeɈ Hutɭʕʖngɡ Editor. [email protected] NOVEMBER 2019 Photos: Brian Tilley
Transcript of C R O A K - Toads Little Theatre › app › download › ... · C R O A K From The Chair Time...
C R O A K
From The Chair Time marches on! December is upon us and may the fes vi es begin (bah humbug!). Various doorbells should now be working within the theatre – the disabled entrance bell should now ring in the FOH office area as well as directly next to the disabled entrance. Any problems, please let someone know. Our recent quiz night went well and thanks go to Sherry Dudley, John Hall and Al Dunn for organising everything, and to Jackie Tarney for (wo)manning the bar. Don’t forget – we have our annual dinner at Amici’s on 26th January – please contact Peter Burcher with your choices. Maintenance, as always, have many issues to deal with. Current headaches include trying to work out the best way of extending the tarmac in the main car park, boiler issues, ligh ng replacements within the theatre, etc, etc, etc. We are going to ins gate some FOH training in the new year (it’s been yonks since we’ve done any). Hopefully, this will refresh people’s knowledge and emphasise the importance of public safety. As always, at this me of year, the play selec on for next season is paramount in most of the commi ee’s minds – so many criteria to juggle – as you should all be aware by now, we will be performing Allo Allo as a summer season rather than having two summer shows. It’s a risk but if we don’t try something a li le bit different, we’ll never know if it works or not. Audi ons will be held in the new year – watch this space! Finally, I’d like to wish all our member a merry chris nglemas and a happy new year (extra bah humbug!). Eat and drink lots!
Jon Manley (chair bloke)
Welcome… Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas
Be Hut ng Editor. [email protected]
NOVEMBER 2019 Photos: Brian Tilley
Production & Other News TOADS CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA! WEDNESDAY 18th DECEMBER , 7PM for 7.30PM VENUE: LITTLE THEATRE BAR. The event: Mulled Wine, Mince Pies and Half Price Drinks, a new song featuring Jon Manley called ‘Murder on the Eardrums’, Christmas Carol’s, Sing song’s , Merriment and Good Cheer. Yes, it’s the time of year when Santa has a meltdown, and the theatre is full of baubles, (nothing new then! ed.)
WEDNESDAY CLUB How delightful to have survived the rainy season in South Devon! With our postman staggering under the weight of political pamphlets, let’s hope we survive the General Inun-dation. It’s been a month for literature, with Margaret Shylock read-ing from her new autobiography ‘Feather on the Breeze’. Margaret has been with Wedders twice before, and obviously feels at home with our membership. We missed the November ‘Memory Cafe’ as we were with Monica and Derek Baker to see their production of ‘Cold Comfort Farm’... and very good it was, too! David Streeter’s uncle was a butler at Highclere House, and he spent much of his youth in a stately home. His talk was warmly presented and received... we must have David back again; he’s an ex-pert story-teller. The Acumen Poetry Day was well attended, despite featur-ing a reading by myself. I expect the punters came to hear my co-presenter, Ian Royce Chamberlain........ Alec Taylor won the closely-fought slam. Our latest play, ‘Grow up Grandad’ was groundbreaking! This magnificent story was much appreciated by the Wed-ders crowd and our audiences alike. Alison Dockray, Lydia’s mother, who is a regular Toads patron, said it was the best produced play she’d ever seen at The Little Theatre.....quite an accolade! We rounded off November with a reading of Stephanie’s new novel, ‘Dead on Dartmoor’, from which she read some tantalising extracts. The Waterstones’ staff in attendance were very pleased with their book sales..... that’s a treat in store to read... but after Christmas! December starts with a perennial favourite, ‘Desert Island Disc’ and then our ‘Memory Cafe’ will feature David Street-er and Nigel with their Christmas Quiz and Carols..... which must mean Nigel’s wife will be there too! The Wednesday Club will take a break after our Christmas Party on 11th December; however there will be a POETS Fri-day meeting on 13th December (that’s if we survive the ‘Inglorious Twelfth’). The subject this time will be ‘Magic and Mystery’... how apt. ‘The Memory Cafe’ will be on 3rd January, with Jim Redman and ‘The Accabellas’. Our first Wedders meeting for 2020 will be on 15th January. Now where’s that Christmas card list of mine... who else can I cross off?! John Miles
QUIZ EVENING Nov 2019 Our winning team members celebrate their victory at the quiz held in November and attended by about 40 Toads and friends. Congratulations to Martin and Stephanie Austin, Heather Clemans, Glynis and Bob Tame and Colin Baker, who made up The Zombies team! Our thanks to quizmaster John Hall, bar manager Jackie Tarney, techy Al Dunn and Joy Book for catering sup-port. And, of course to all of you who participated and ensured that the evening was an enjoyable one.
He told me he knew the words...
This super photo was sent in by Sherry Dudley, who sug-gested a cap on of ‘’ John Miles and Jill Farrant singing from the same hymn sheet! Who’d have thunk it?’‘ So what do you think they were saying? Answers please to : ‘CAPTION’ @ marke ng@toadstheatre (John & Jill have given permis-sion to include this in the CROAK).
9th—14th DEC 2019
Production & Other News Summer at “Cafe Rene”; an old tradition revisited.
Following our discussions at the last AGM, it has been decided that we will run just one Summer play in 2020, starting on 3rd August for a full week, (Sat mat) and then every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 17th September. This may seem a rash venture for Toads, however when Suzy and I first joined, this was the standard Summer procedure.
The many advantages and disadvantages have been considered, and the outcome is that I will direct ‘Allo!Allo! for the full run of 25 performances.
This will require a lot of planning, and so the Assistant Direc-tor, Nichola Aldridge, and I now ask for your thoughts on this project. Taking advantage of such a long run, we will be con-verting the whole theatre to be ‘Wartime France’, which offers huge scope for our imaginative Wardrobe and Props teams! There are many speaking parts in the play, drawing on Toads’ full range of acting expertise, and because this will be a long run, some of the parts will need to be shared...... a ‘Cast of Thousands’, perhaps!
Nichola and I will need to know your availability and commit-ment to this bumper project, so please contact me on [email protected]
It’s prudent to gauge reaction from potential cast members, and so I have spoken to several actors for their opinions and availa-bility. From this we have pencilled-in some likely candidates, however all parts are up for audition, so if Nichola and I find someone we feel would be better in the role, our pencilled-in list will be torn up!
There are script copies in the Box Office, so please sign one out if you’re interested, but also return it promptly; we are ex-pecting a lot of interest.
I shall probably ‘Say zis more than once’, but ‘Allo! Allo!’ is one of the best TV spin-off scripts (I’ve done a few!).
I’m sure that this will be a romp, so come along and be a part of it!
John Miles.
By Noel Coward Directed by Stephanie Austin
Cast To be played by: Ruth…………………………………………….Jo Osborne Charles…………………………………………Jon Manley Dr Bradman………………………………….Martin Austin Mrs Bradman……………………………Brenda Hutchings Madame Arcati………………………….. Adele Reynolds Edith…………………………………………………...TBC
What’s on in December in other Companies 11-14th December. 7.30pm Sat mat 2.30pm. ‘Sing a Song o’ Scrooge’ The Palace Theatre, Paignton. Arthur Sullivan and Nigel Hickman. Based on Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. Gilbert and Sullivan (Torbay) Society. 13-14th December. 7.30pm plus Sat mat 2.30pm. ‘The Great Gale of Brixham, 1866’ written and directed by Laura Jury? South Devon Players Theatre and Film Company. Brixham Theatre. 01803 415987. Plus loads of Pantos!
Amici’s Meal A link to the Amici's menu for January 26th 2020 - our annual post-Christmas get together h p://toadsli letheatre.co.uk/app/download/5814508605/Amici+menu+2020.pdf
Please email your menu choices directly to Peter Burch-er [email protected]
All monies to be paid by 15th January at the latest.
What did Cinderella say when her photos didn’t arrive on time? “ One day my prints will come!”
Steve Almy has been cast as - The Passer By
ON THE SPOT ... Toads Contacts
Listed here are some essen al contact details: Box Office 01803 299330 [email protected] if you’d like to get involved in front-of-house du es Jon Manley* [email protected] Jackie Tarney 07815 323982 [email protected] If you’d like to help behind the bar
Jill Pe grew* 01803 525071 [email protected] if you’d like to join the wardrobe team
Anne Jordan 01626 330866 [email protected] if you’d like to join the props team
Joy Book* 07704 584953 [email protected] If you’d like to help In the coffee shop Brenda Hutchings 07800 644508 marke [email protected] if you’d like to submit an ar cle for Croak John Miles 01803 858394 [email protected] for Wednesday Club
Andrew S dston 07976 364412 [email protected] If you’d like to help with set-building
Al Dunn 07880 734880 [email protected] If you’d like to get involved with techy stuff If you want to act, or get involved backstage in any produc on, or as props or prompt, con-tact the director in each case, whose number will always be listed in The Croak with the audi-
on informa on. If you're s ll not sure who to call, any member of the commi ee will always help to point you to the right person. As well as those names marked with an asterisk above, the commi ee members are: Alan Tanner Treasurer 01803 613701 [email protected] Anna Reynolds 07788 994398 [email protected] Mar n Waddington 01803 290038 waddingtonmar [email protected] Sherry Dudley [email protected] Andrew Kenyon 07479 008066 [email protected] Roger Heath 07802 808447 [email protected]
ADDITION TO TOADS SEASON... Hot Rock Productions presents @ The Little Theatre Alice in Wonderland Written and directed by Lee Redwood Saturday 28th March 2020 (performances 2.30pm matinee & 7.30pm) Panto time? Oh Yes It Is! Hot Rock Productions is excited to bring their Easter Pantomime to the Little Theatre, Torquay for the very first time! This fun-filled family show features stunning scenery, colourful costumes, toe tapping songs and bucket loads of laughter. Join Alice as she falls down the rabbit hole and finds herself in the most peculiar place she’s ever seen! She’ll need to have her wits about her as the evil, but hilarious, Queen of Hearts is after the secret recipe to create the best Jam Tarts for her tea party! Alice will need all the help she can get from her Wonderland friends including the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and Molly the Dormouse to stop the evil Queen from stealing the recipe from her sister - Celia Suet - the most fabulously-dressed cook you’ve ever clapped eyes on! Their adventures will take them on a magical journey through Wonderland as they fight good against evil and discover the power of true friendship. Will they make it to the tea party? You’ve got an invitation too - come along to the Little Theatre this Easter and find out! Tickets £13.00 (Concessions: £12 over 60s, £9 under 16s) TOADS @ The Little Theatre St Marks Road Torquay TQ1 2EL Tel: 01803 299330 Email: [email protected]
