summer
2017
newsletter
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In late February Councillor Andrew Martin,
outgoing Mayor of Nantwich, held his own
Award ceremony. For three years he has
presented ‘Salt of the Earth’ awards to unsung
heroes in the town and this year one of
his Recognition Awards went to Nantwich
Players President Mrs Pat Hough.
The Mayor wanted to recognise the
contribution of Pat to the town’s Theatre. Pat
has been president of Nantwich Players for
over 37 years, with an involvement spanning
much longer in a wide variety of roles (both
on and off stage).
The Players too are highly appreciative of
Pat’s commitment, and delighted that she is
staying on as their Honorary President under
the new Constitution.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT
57 Members attended the Annual General Meeting on 23 May 2017.
• President Pat Hough summarised the year which had been a most successful and busy one with seven
productions, the foyer extension and improved backstage facilities, and she highlighted our 90th birthday
celebrations to look forward to in October.
• The Chairman then spoke and discussion followed before Members voted to accept the updated Constitution
which had been circulated before the meeting.
•
Elections took place for Committee Officers and Members.
• There were full reports on our Finances including the Supporters’ Fund which services the loan from the Town
Council and, before the evening ended, there was a reminder of next year’s plays which are:
September 8 - 16 October 20 - 28 December 8 - 16 February 9 - 17 May 11 - 19 July 6 - 14 The Game by Harold Brighouse, director Jerry Park
Just Between Ourselves by Alan Ayckbourn, director John Powell
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, directors Jeremy Acklam, Beth Froud, Catherine Acklam and Elaine West
Colder Than Here by Laura Wade, director John McKay
The Thrill of Love by Amanda Whittington with guest director Marie Straker
Ladies Day by Amanda Whittington, directors Garth Jones and Clare Hoy
Your 2017-18 committee is:
Officers: Chairman: Jeremy Acklam, Treasurer: Sandie Laughlin, Secretary: Greta Guest.
Members: Catherine Acklam, Amber Edmondson, Linda Evans, Beth Froud, Judy Gratton, Garth Jones, Charlotte
Lightbody, Jerry Park, John Powell and Chris Ridge.
Honorary President: Pat Hough
RENEW THOSE SUBS...
Subscriptions are due now for the year to May 2018.
Please see the renewal subscription form at the end of the
newsletter.
Page 1
2017 AGM Report from Jeremy Acklam, NP Chairman
A big thank you to the 53 members who turned out for our AGM on Tuesday 23rd May. After the recent EGM
we were all wondering how many members would turn up to the AGM but in the end the constitution voting to
replace the old constitution but keep the principle by which committee members and officers could re-stand for
election if they wished, were voted for with solid majorities, so hopefully no more constitution issues for a few
years!
Both Ian Lightbody and I stood for the role of Chairman and I thank him for doing so because giving our members
a choice is what a strong democratic society is all about. I am determined to help everyone in the society to come
together following the recent constitution discussions. We are in a strong position at Nantwich Players, both in
terms of profitability (all of which gets channelled back to invest in the theatre) and having a wealth of talent that
our audiences appreciate. In a year when we have seen Moulton Drama Club calling it a day on play productions
due to lack of support, it is clear that we need to continue to move forward firmly and embrace changes to
broaden our appeal to the public and to current and prospective members.
My objectives for my term as chairman are therefore to increase the number of members; expand what we offer
our audiences; and maintain profitability. While your committee will simply get on with some of the initiatives to
achieve these, all our members will have the opportunity to shape other ideas as they are developed.
At the AGM we had five Committee candidates standing for four places (Amber Edmondson, Linda Evans, Beth
Froud, Judy Gratton and Jerry Park) but once the new constitution was adopted, there was an additional place
available because the role of President no longer carries a committee vote. Consequently all five candidates have
been appointed. Thank you also to our AGM vote tellers, Frank D’Arcy Hughes & David Bushell.
With £250,000 spent on the theatre over the past 15 years, and now the constitution is sorted, we have an
opportunity to make Nantwich Players one of the leading amateur theatres, a great position to be in for the
hobby we love. Looking forward to our 90th year, we will be looking for more volunteers – to finish the backstage work associated with the new foyer but importantly to help shape our future activities. The core tenet of
Nantwich Players is that it is you, our members, who make the difference – thank you and let’s build on what we
have achieved! Jeremy Acklam
Not just a pretty stage....
The enlarged foyer and improved backstage facilities have undoubtedly
increased our appeal for other functions and two really special and
different events will be staged in The Players Theatre later this year,
featuring Music and Poetry.
First, the Musician:
Peter Price, guitarist/singer with an international reputation will be here
on Sunday 23rd July. He played at our theatre during a Jazz Festival and
wants to give Nantwich a special One Night Only event.
Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start on 23rd July. The bar will be open,
with plastic glasses to take into the theatre. Tickets are £10 and will be on
sale from the TIC at the Civic Hall and online at www.nantwichtowncouncil.
gov.uk from 30 June.
This is the day of the Acklams’ Summer Party so you can glide from their
house at Audlem to the Theatre for a terrific evening of acoustic, blues and
slide guitar.
“His performances demonstrate a mind-boggling mastery of the acoustic guitar, a rich singing voice, and a relaxed yet
compelling stage presence. Peter’s performances have delighted audiences worldwide and guarantee an evening not to
be missed." THE INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL OF GREAT BRITAIN
Have a listen to him here: http://youtu.be/817OZ1pkxpU
Then the Poet:
Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy will be reading her work and
signing books at The Players Theatre during the 10th Words and
Music Festival on Saturday 14th October at 2pm.
It is a real privilege to be invited to stage this event and to welcome
Ms Duffy to Nantwich. Remembering the size of the theatre, you will
be pleased to know you can buy tickets now. This is a Festival Event,
hosted by Nantwich Players.
Tickets are £17.50 from http://www.brownpapertickets.com/
event/2965534
Page 2
Bring out your curtains...
When sets are being built and
painted, we protect the auditorium
seats with old sheets and curtains.
Some of these are starting to wear
out.... if you are ready to recycle any
sheets or curtains please bring them
to the theatre. We will put them to
good use. Thank you.
CALENDAR CORNER
by Catherine Acklam
Member-only events
Events connected to the
Theatre/Players
The Treasure Hunt on Tuesday
20th June has been postponed
until later in the year and replaced
by a Beetle Drive and Board
Games Evening.
Tickets for our July Production
of Communicating Doors go on
sale on Tuesday 20th June.
Supporters’ Scheme pre-booking
is available on Saturday 17th
June at the Theatre from 10am –
11am.
Auditions for Just Between
Ourselves by Alan Ayckbourn
directed by John Powell are on
Tuesday 27th June at 7.45pm.
See end of this Newsletter for
details.
Happy Birthday to us...
Don’t forget our 90th birthday
party to be held on Saturday 7th
October at Richmond Village.
Arrangements are being made
for this SPECTACULAR event and
will be sent to you in plenty of
time. Just make sure you put
the date in your diary now and
we’ll see you there. It promises
to be even better than the 80th
party in 2007.
Many thanks
to Nantwich’s outgoing
Mayor Andrew Martin for the
donation of almost £1000 from
his Mayoral Charity. We look
forward to seeing him and his
wife Linda at our plays, even
without the chains of office.
Auditions for Children for our
December production of The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
(RSC Version) directed by Jeremy
Acklam & Beth Froud are on
Sunday 9th July at 2pm at the
theatre.
The production of Communicating
Doors is being staged from Friday
7th until Saturday 15th July.
17th to 21st July is the annual
Maintenance Week – please be
prepared to volunteer!
Sunday 23rd July from 12:30
is the annual Nantwich Players
Summer Party at Jeremy &
Catherine’s house. Bring a bottle,
outdoor game and seating!
Auditions for Adults for our
December production of The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
(RSC Version) directed by Jeremy
Acklam & Beth Froud are on
Tuesday 25th July at 7.45pm at
the theatre.
Sunday 23rd July in the evening
(8pm start) Peter Price, acoustic
blues guitar virtuoso, is playing a
‘special’ for Nantwich Players at
£10 per ticket (book through the
TIC in person or TIC online - on the
door if not sold).
Tickets for our September
production of The Game go on sale
on Tuesday 8th August. Priority
tickets on Saturday 5th August
at the Theatre from 10am – 11am.
Best wishes
to Brian Rushbrooke after a
recent spell in hospital.
Editorial
Reviewing our activities since taking over from Charlie Gobbett as Newsletter Editor in 2013 I see that in four
years we have staged 28 productions, won numerous awards and transformed the premises.
In 2014 we opened up the new Costume and Props Store, staged the first Youth Drama Festival and started
selling tickets online through the Town Council website.
Air conditioning was functioning by 2015, greatly increasing audience comfort. Backstage was altered and the
new kitchen in Love Lane fitted out.
2016 saw the creation of our amazing new foyer space and complete reconfiguration of the old garage and, in
October 2017, we shall mark 90 years since the first meeting of the Nantwich Playreading Circle which morphed
into Nantwich Players.
None of this could have happened without members giving their time, effort, money-making ideas and
enthusiasm. Thank you to every single person who has contributed in any way. Long may this continue.
Charlotte Lightbody
Editor
Page 3
LITTLE THEATRE GUILD CONFERENCE AND AGM:
Report by John Powell.
A Friday morning and I set off to the Archway Theatre in Horley, Surrey, for the Little Theatre Guild Conference and
AGM, a journey to keep the NP flag flying! There were 67 delegates and those from “up North” were in the minority.
The week-end started with Supper followed by “Musicality”, songs from the shows presented by 16 Archway
members in the 65 seat Studio space. They are not a musical group so, although singing standards did vary, how
many of us would even contemplate such a piece?
Saturday morning started with theatre tours, always
interesting. Imagine a road leading up to Horley station
with a series of arches underneath – well, this is Archway
Theatre. One of these is a rehearsal space with loo and
small kitchen, two more arches hold the extensive
wardrobe. There is a props/furniture room and then the
bar and theatre itself with 95 seats, plus a room with a
kitchen and loos that can be used for outside lets. There
are grand plans to link the whole lot together but new
seating is the priority at the moment. Archway present
11 productions a season and 3 in the studio space – they
are obviously a highly professional set-up.
I chose workshops on stage fighting and improvisation
techniques in preference to fire and safety and singing
for non-singers. My two were excellent, led by Archway
members. Afternoon was the AGM with an open forum
Photo credit: Ian Capper
to follow. My question was to seek answers to the
problem of mobile devices activating during a performance; it seemed to be a common problem with no definitive
solution. On Saturday evening we saw a production of the all male 2-hander “Stones in His Pockets” and, having now
been to four of these LTG events, I can say this was one of the best.
On Sunday a disappointment that the keynote speaker was unable to be with us. His replacement was to be Steve
Kynman (Google him) the voice of Fireman Sam. We were not inspired but how wrong we were! We had a video
with a number of cartoon characters – all amazingly voiced by Steve as he proved when he did them “live” for us.
He describes himself as a voice actor – commercials etc. He is also a puppeteer (time for another demonstration).
With hardly a note he spoke for almost 90 minutes and during this time he told us how his career had been shaped.
He spoke of being in the right place at the right time and meeting the right people. He is obviously a busy and indemand man. The weekend could not have ended better.
John Powell - LTG Representative for NP
Little Theatre Guild visit to Nantwich:
On March 12th we were able to show off our newly extended and
refurbished foyer to 20 representatives from 12 Little Theatre Guild
members in the Northern Area. These included Andrew Lowrie
(the current LTG Chairman) from Birmingham who chaired the
meeting as the Northern Secretary Margaret Mann was voiceless!
This “relationship meeting” was to share views on various topics
including insurance, children in theatre and how we promote our
theatres and sell tickets. It appeared that NP were very much in
the minority in not offering a season ticket.
Of course, on these occasions theatre tours are an essential part
and we managed to work around the Youth Theatre who were on
stage with one of the final rehearsals for The Wolves. We showed
our costume and props store, the work in progress in Love Lane
(dressing rooms and the part of the former garage that will now
be a rehearsal space) and they were duly impressed with our setup.
Tea and sandwiches were supplemented by Catherine's tray bake
and Clare’s mince pies. Thank you to Catherine, Clare, Chris Lockett
and Greta not forgetting Jeremy who took copious notes during
the discussions over the afternoon.
Update on The Game from director Jerry Park
Effie’s Burning by Valerie Windsor, directed by
Charlotte Lightbody, was entered into Festivals
at Greater Manchester (GMDF) and Wilmslow
as well as being performed on our own stage.
There were eight entries in the Senior Drama
category at GMDF of which Nantwich Players
won:
Best Production
Best Performance - Janan Chopra
Runner-up Best Actress - Helen Gresty
At Wilmslow the adjudicator could not separate
them so Helen and Janan jointly won Best
Senior Individual Performance, and she was also
extremely complimentary about the make-up
by Pauline Brennan.
STOP PRESS !!
Our Youth Theatre is delighted to be awarded
£500 by Baker Wynne Wilson towards the cost
of Development Workshops. More news in
next Newsletter.
Rehearsals are now in hand for our September production. It's a thoughtful comedy in three Acts, written and set in 1914
and concerns a northern Football Club, its chairman, and its star player and his overnight transfer. The second Act takes
place in the Secretary's office below the club's kop - set designers Richard Thompson and John Whitehead are already
working on a raked ceiling!
Soccer paraphernalia are needed for set dressing. Have you anything relevant you can lend, such as posters, old footballs
or boots, or authentic rattles? If so, please contact the play's director, Jerry Park, on (01270) 626215.
Page 4
Success Stories:
As most Members know, we enter Drama Festivals each year which means inviting an adjudicator to visit productions
to assess all aspects of performances, acting, staging, direction, technical and so on. Adjudicators also visit all the
other plays entered in the Festivals and rank each production to decide the “Best” in each category. The Trophy
Cabinet in our foyer shows our successes year by year. The Awards season is now upon us and results known so far
are:
Under 21 trophy:
Georgina Goodchild for Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Best Comedy Performance:
Don Hirst and Simon Porter as Holmes & Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Special Adjudicator’s Award: Simon Porter “for stepping in and taking on the role of Watson and learning the large and frantic script and relentlessly complex business at just two weeks’ notice.”
Joint 3rd place overall: The Hound of the Baskervilles, directed by Chris Ridge.
Nominations also made at NSDA were:
Rising Stars (Under 16)
The Young Chorus of Wolves in The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.
Best Supporting Performance Jonathan Everitt as Kenneth in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle & Dick.
Robert Earl as Tommy in Breezeblock Park.
Best Performance (Female)
Best Stage Presentation
Special Adjudicator’s Award
Best Director
Sian Weedon as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The quartet of actors for teamwork and individual performances in God of Carnage.
Simon Porter for God of Carnage.
Gordon Hamlin for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Chris Ridge for The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The Cheshire Theatre Guild Awards are not made until July so any success there will be published in a later
Newsletter and/or an Alert.
Spamalot:
review by Jerry Park
I have mixed feelings about Monty Python. First broadcast when I was a
student, it was all the more enjoyable for being totally incomprehensible
to my parents. Highlights were Terry Gilliam’s innovative graphics, and
the wonderful Eric Idle (always ‘knowing’, always getting it wrong).
On the other hand, it seemed an uneasy blend of satire and silliness;
girlfriends generally didn’t enjoy it; and undergraduate fans tediously
re-enacted its more legendary sketches.
Not being as bothered by uneasy blends now as I was then, I joined the
Nantwich contingent that turned out to see fellow Players in Curtain
Call’s production of Spamalot at Crewe Lyceum in May. Eric Idle’s book
was none the worse for being standard Python. The songs were not
particularly memorable, but likeable enough when (as here) belted
out; composer John Du Prez’s musical parodies do to Lloyd Webber what Arthur Sullivan did to Wagner; and
who doesn’t want to sing along to ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’? It was a fast-paced production,
very well-costumed, well-staged, with strong song and immaculate dance. It’s the discipline of a Curtain Call
production that always impresses. Everything is got right, and that only happens with relentless practice.
Players past and present made up a large proportion of the acting strength: Sean Clark-Wilkinson, Simons
Dean and Porter, Charlie Gobbett, Adam Goode, Chris Ridge. The truism that Simon P never puts a foot wrong
was literally true in his dance routine. As in an earlier Curtain Call show, Hairspray, Sean showed excellent
judgement as an actor, bigging up his character without ditching its intrinsic pathos.
Small niggles? First, for all its available talent, Curtain Call buys in a professional female vocalist, and the
acting, song and dance are ‘live’ but not the musical accompaniment. Why? Isn’t local theatre about honing
all the local skills? Second, Spamalot was promoted months ahead on YouTube in a very professional film
in costume and Beeston Castle. Thereafter, digital advertising was reduced to images of rehearsals that
(according to adjacent text) the cast were finding hilarious. I always think that is a psychological error.
Potential audiences want evidence of the promised hilarity, not assurances that the cast are having a good
time without them.
Page 5
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME – All Memberships are now due for renewal.
Please complete all the details including Gift Aid even if your details are the same as last year so that I can update my
records correctly.
Please send with your cheque (payable to Nantwich Players) to the Membership Secretary:
Mrs Catherine Acklam, New Taintree House, 6 Salford, Audlem, CW3 0AT
Name(s) ______________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Telephone No:______________________________
Mobile No______________________________
E-mail address: print clearly _______________________________________
I confirm that my Membership Fee is a gift-aid donation (tick) [ ]
Select your category: Senior Member £25 / Junior Member £15 / Friend £5
Audition Notices
for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will be sent
out by email. Auditions for the children will be on 9th
July and for adults on 25th July. Keep an eye out for
the emails giving full details.
Tell us when you change your email ...
We can’t keep in touch with you if you don’t keep in
touch with us. Please tell us when you are changing
email address. Just send a quick message to
[email protected] giving your new
email before you leave your old address. Then add
Nantwich Players to your Contacts list so our messages
actually get through.
The Youth Theatre production of The Wolves of Willoughby
Chase directed by Shelley Piasecka and Simon Piasecki
Book early for September play
Tickets for The Game go on sale on 8th August
(Priority tickets on 5th) because of summer
holidays. This is normal practice for the
September play. Put in your diary now!
Bold Girls directed by Don Hirst
This edition of the Newsletter was edited by Charlotte Lightbody, proof-read by Michelle Boden and Thelma Angus.
Layout by Judy Gratton. Printed by Busy-Print and distributed by Catherine Acklam. Thank you to all contributors.
Entries for the Autumn edition in early August please. Photographs are always welcome.
Page 6
Audition Notice
JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES by Alan Ayckbourn
DIRECTOR: John Powell
Performances: OCTOBER 20th to 28th (excl. Sunday)
AUDITION DATE JUNE 27th at 7.45 pm
If you are unable to make this date an alternative will be arranged, contact John on 01606 833645.
Please note I am away 17th – 24th June.
THE SCRIPTS ARE IN THE FOYER NOW
The play was first staged in 1977 and will be set around that period. There are two Acts and four Scenes and each scene is
on the birthday of one of the five characters (2M and 3F) There is some flexibility in ages. IF YOU LIKE THE LOOK OF A PART
GO FOR IT!
DENNIS and VERA (his wife) are 40’s/50’s
MARJORIE needs to look old enough to be mother to Dennis.
NEIL and PAM could be younger but this is not essential.
Dennis is a d-i-y fanatic but not a good one, he spends too much time in his garage unable to see that he is neglecting his
wife who is in a fragile state of health. His mother is overbearing and no help as she constantly undermines her daughterin-law. Into the mix come Neil and Pam and over the 11 months of the play we see an uneasy relationship deteriorate
further.
AUDITION PIECES –no need to learn but please have a good knowledge of ALL the play.
Page 14. Let’s have your cups to bottom of 16. M and D
Page 18 – to bottom of 22. N, P, D and V
Page 14. Let’s have your cups to bottom of 16. M and D
Page 18 – to bottom of 22. N, P, D and V
Page 38 to top of 42. P and D
Page 48 (top) to end of play. N, D, V and M
This is quite a short play (49 pages) and although in synopsis it looks rather bleak there is humour to be found. It’s not as
“frothy” as early Ayckbourn plays but it does not have the darkness or complicated themes of his later plays.
REHEARSALS. Our usual Mondays and Thursdays, approx. 3 or 4 Sundays (after 4 p.m.) all with the agreement of the cast.
The first rehearsal will be on August 17th.
Subject to Adjudicator availability the play will be entered in the usual Festivals.
I will also need a backstage team – would you like to be involved ?
John
[email protected] 01606 833645. Note I am away 17th – 24th June.