‘STAGE-WRITE’ THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FRIENDS OF SHANKLIN THEATRE December 2015 News. Past, present and future. SHANKLIN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL WEEKEND SATURDAY 5TH AND SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER This is going to be a very busy weekend for FOST volunteers as we are hoping to be able to have enough people to enable us to take part in the festival at Regent Street on Saturday by having a stall promoting the shows and also open the theatre to the public for refreshments and tours as well as having the box office open all day. In addition, we have been invited to take part in the Old Village Victorian Christmas Festival by wandering amongst the crowds in Victorian costume giving out flyers and brochures. Also, there is a show on during Saturday evening and the Royal Marines on Sunday afternoon. The catering team will be involved in providing a hot meal for the band and again the box office volunteers will be working on Sunday. If you are able to offer some of your time during that weekend, please add your details to the various rotas. It should be a great weekend! Thank you. Sharon --00— TRIBUTE TO PHILIP BELL The successful Island Author of the ‘Elfin Child’ who joined the ‘Friends of Shanklin Theatre’ to help us save the theatre he loved, has lost his fight against Motor Neurone Disease in October. Philip who also wrote poetry and produced a collection called Penglewissle Poetry generously donated copies to help raise fund for the ‘Friends’. He will be sadly missed by the Friends and our thoughts have been with his wife Nicola Bell whom we know will continue her support for the arts in Shanklin. --00— £500 FOR ‘CHRISTMAS PRIZE DRAW’ Yes, increased prizes for the FOST Christmas Prize Draw. Our biggest first prize ever of £250. Second prize £100 and then two prizes of £50 and two more of £25. The draw will take place on the afternoon of the last Pantomime performance on 3rd January. Tickets still £1 and obtainable at all shows in theatre and from FOST promotional stands during the December period. You can always help by volunteering to sell tickets before the shows or during the intervals, just leave a note for Sylvia Lay-flurrie at the theatre and she will arrange to get you involved in her team of sellers. 1 --00-WILL THIS BE THE LAST ISLAND WIDE AMATEUR AWARDS? John Hannam organised a glittering evening to celebrate the best of the Island’s highly acclaimed amateur scene, this included 23 presentations ranging from ‘The Best Village Production’ to the ‘Award for the Best Musical’. The young were catered for with a ‘Jeremy Irons Award for Best Young Actor’ to all categories for the ‘Jack Douglas Award for Best Comedy’. Three hundred attended the 17th year of these popular awards, but could this be the last with John Hannam signalling that this was the last to be organised by him? John we salute you as a great figure on our Island and as a real friend of Shanklin Theatre. We anticipate seeing you still coming up the entrance steps for many years to come to see the many local community groups and the big stars as they tread the boards of our ‘grand old theatre’. The theatre played its role in the ceremony, by during the evening providing light refreshments at the interval, and a prompt bar service to enable the second half to go with an even better swing. --00-GLOBAL ‘FRIENDS’ The resurgent Shanklin Theatre is now gaining global ‘Friends’ from across the pond. Montague Cooper who lives on South Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach in Florida USA has recently taken out sponsorship of a Theatre seat. Like all who sponsor, he received his certificate and tells us he ‘will frame and treasure this ‘. Montague who once lived in Shanklin now lives 4,374 miles away, but as he is proving, you can still support Shanklin Theatre from afar. --00-‘THANK YOU’ TO SUPPORTERS WHO NAMED A SEAT Four years ago, when the new seats arrived, we launched ‘Name a seat’ sponsorship and with us now approaching 200 seats bearing plaques, the FOST Committee agreed to hold a reception to say thank you. On the anniversary, 11th November guests were invited to a welcome drink, which was then followed by a short film on how a stage set is erected, five years of before and after photos on the big screen, culminating with a ‘Lights and Sound’ display arranged by Chris Gardner. At the event our new brochure was launched inviting everyone to ‘Name a Seat’. Endorsements by stars who have visited the theatre include Joe Pasquale “Please help to keep this lovely theatre going by sponsoring one of their seats with a dedicated plaque” and John Suchet who stated “ I’m proud to be Patron of this lovely theatre, and if you are able to sponsor a seat this will go to help in the future running of the theatre”. It was announced by Mike Beston, ‘Name a Seat’ promoter and Vice Chair of the Friends that the FOST Website would now have an enhanced section inviting interest for seat sponsorship. The seating already taken is highlighted in red and seats available are featured in green, enabling new purchasers to easily select a seat. It’s a great idea for your loved ones this Christmas!!! 2 --00-HERE COME THE COMMUNITY THEATRE AND DANCE GROUPS True to the aspirations and reasons for keeping our theatre open, the theatre supports our local amateur theatrical and dance groups. At the time you will be receiving this newsletter in December we have shows by the Footsteps Dance Studio, First Act, Dance Vibez and Theatre Train performing a Christmas Extravaganza, in 2016 we also have a list of local groups with shows. Early in February on Sunday 7th Starlight Boutique Dance Academy will be performing a ‘Dance Revolution’ and then later in February on the 18th – 20th the Island Savoyards present Monty Python’s Spamalot . There will be three evening shows and an afternoon matinee at 2.30 pm on the Saturday. Spamalot is described as a new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ written by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. --00-DATE FOR YOUR DIARY Put this date in your new diary for 2016. The Friends of Shanklin Theatre will be holding the annual Emergency Evacuation Training Evening on Monday 1st February at 7.30 pm in the Theatre. Even if you have attended before in previous years, it is very important to attend this year so that you hear all the instructions that our officer responsible for Fire Evacuation, Chris Gardner will give, should a fire or emergency break out. Also you will hear from Vic Farrow and Alana Bird who will share their years of experience in dealing with problems in the auditorium. All those attending will have their attendance recorded, and these volunteers will always receive preference in working at the Theatre on the nights when the big shows come to town, so that the knowledge gained on the exercise is available should problems arise. All members of the Friends will receive an invitation, and everyone is welcome to attend. --00-ONE OF OUR FAVOURITES ARE BACK 30 Plucking years Eight Ukuleles, Sixteen hands, Thirty Two Strings, Sixteen Million Minutes, One Billion Seconds, Thirty Years. Yes it is the return of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on Saturday 12th December. The show commences at 7.30 pm and tickets cost £24. By September of next year the Orchestra will have been active for One Billion Seconds. This is your chance to experience just a little bit of history. --00-THE TOP STARS JUST KEEP ON COMING IN 2016 In February Andy Fairweather Low and The Lowriders are set to get the theatre humming again after the January winter break for refurbishment. In February – Anita Harris of seven Royal Command Performances fame, will be followed by a return of Jenny Éclair. Brian 3 Conley will be our Easter Saturday star show (26th March) and in April on her now annual visit to Shanklin, Sally Morgan. Later in to the spring, Julian Clary will be visiting us on 7th May to explain ‘The Joy of Mincing’ to an audience that must be 16 plus. But if you haven’t got your tickets for Sarah Millican, sorry these have already sold out for next June. --00-TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD FEDERATION 2015 Once again in October the theatre welcomed the Island Townswomen’s Guilds for the Federation Together Day. A varied programme was presided over by Janet Wardle known to many of us as a volunteer at the Theatre. Well-known to all Islanders, Karen Eales addressed the conference on the Charity Challenge and Adventure, which works with young people aged 12 to 19 and uses adventurous and challenging outdoor activities alongside tailored support to help raise their confidence, selfesteem and aspirations. Sandra Simmonds on her ‘Life after Iran’ and Mitch Jones, a Yeoman Warder at the ‘Tower of London’ who gave an insightful talk into life at the Tower. The finale of the afternoon was the ‘Bunker Girls’ rendering songs from the 50’s. Home-made soup and freshly cut sandwiches, along with items from the bar were sold at the lunch time interval raising funds for the Theatre. Over 80 members had an enjoyable day and we look forward to their return next year. --00-FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE The Royal British Legion held the Shanklin Festival of Remembrance and Drumhead Service at the Theatre on Friday 6th November. The evening featured music by the Medina Marching Band and displays by Army, Navy and Air Cadet forces. Shanklin Theatre made this evening our local contribution to Remembrance, which is a time for us to remember the people who gave their lives during times of war and conflict. --00— Theatre's Little Brother R.Robertson 26 Nov 15 When visiting the Theatre to purchase or collect tickets at the Box Office, not everyone is aware that the Box Office is actually within the building that was previously Shanklin Town Hall. Today's Theatre is formed from two buildings : the Theatre (originally The Institute) and the attached Town Hall on the right when the Theatre is viewed from the front. 4 The Theatre's Box Office was formerly the Reading Room of the Town Hall. Despite the changes to the Town Hall building over the years, there are still reminders of the former occupation of the Theatre's 'little brother'. On the same level as the Box Office is a room containing a massive and formidable door, manufactured by John Tann of London, that protects what was the Town Hall's strongroom. No doubt the strongroom's content had considerable value, although today it contains cleaning supplies which nevertheless perform the extremely valuable job of helping to keep the Theatre fresh and sparkling! Not far from the strongroom a grand staircase, manufactured from quality hardwood, sweeps up to the first floor where the 'higher level' functions of the Town Hall took place. Just climbing the wide staircase leads to a feeling of importance and also curiosity as to what lies beyond. Once the staircase has been ascended a door with a promising title lies ahead – the Mayor's Parlour and Members Room. Sadly a quick peek inside the room shows a meeting room of little interest. Still, the door opposite also has a promising title – Council Chamber. Shanklin Council must have met here, discussing and deciding on issues of the time. Pushing the door open reveals a much more interesting room The fire surround in the Council Chamber is rather grand and appropriate to the previous function of the room, though the fire opening is rather small and, whilst being economical, may not have 5 greatly warmed the room in winter. Perhaps the tiled surround was a later addition and the original fire was larger. On the other side of the room is a similar fireplace, although a subsequent addition of a cast iron radiator across the fireplace detracts from its visibility and visual appearance. Now for a little puzzle : on the wall of the Council Chamber are a number of 'boxes' with lids that hinge upwards. What could they be? Ballot boxes or letter boxes perhaps? But why more than one? The answer is below - Finally, if the visit to the valuables strongroom with its massive door, followed by an ascent of the grand staircase to the splendour of the Council Chamber has donned a sense of wealth, a further interesting part of the Theatre's 'little brother' lies downstairs on the basement level in a stairwell open to the elements – the Rates Office. Luckily the door handle is missing and the door no longer opens, saving visitors from the temptation to part with their hard earned wealth in order to pay their rates! --00- CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Christmas is almost here and Shanklin Theatre will be taking part in the Shanklin Festival of Christmas. In response to an idea from Shirley Hughes to make the theatre a visual part of the Festival Rob Robertson has sourced and fitted low voltage icicle lights to the balcony and I’m sure you will agree they will definitely make Shanklin Theatre part of the festival. 6 FOST DISCOUNTS Our Managing Director, Vic Farrow, has successfully negotiated FOST discounts for 3 major plays for 2016: A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED – A Miss Marple 29th March to 2nd APRIL Mystery DIAL “M” for MURDER 19th to 22nd APRIL MOUSE TRAP 14th to 19th November Look through the posters and literature associated with the shows as well as On Line to find out all the details. FOST Discounts are only available by bookings your tickets in person at the Box Office with your membership card. More FOST discounts will be available throughout the year. Watch this space! VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Volunteer Stage Door Keepers are needed during professional shows. The volunteers will work in conjunction with the technical team. Interested? Send an e mail to [email protected] or drop a note at the Box Office for the FOST membership secretary and we will come back to you. SHOPS’ LEAFLET DISTRIBUTORS NEEDED To increase the publicity of the shows throughout the island, we need distributors who can go into their local shops and ask them to display A4 or A3 Shanklin Theatre show leaflets. This can be done at any time. Interested? Send an e mail to [email protected] or drop a note at the Box Office for the FOST membership secretary and we will come back to you to coordinate the distribution. --00-November 6th Prize Draw Re-drawn Prize not claimed in September £100 1605 Ruth Booker Hamilton Road, BINSTEAD PO33 3QZ £200 1240 John Skinner Blake Hall Road, Wanstead, E11 2QQ £100 2645 Neil Address awaited £ 50 1739 D. Rhodes Poynder Pl., Hilmorton, Colne, SN11 8SQ £ 25 1349 Susan Mawhood Warden Road, Totland Bay, PO39 0AD £ 25 1208 James Arnold Elmside, Exeter EX4 6LW Prizes The next draw is for Christmas. Prize Money worth £500. To be drawn at the final Pantomime performance on 3rd January 2016. 7 Friends of Shanklin Theatre Volunteer Structure Supervisors Box Office - Doreen Armstrong 861566 [email protected] Usherettes – Alana Bird 867007 [email protected] - Deputy – Priscilla Morris 861401 Bar – Maureen Harden 405456 [email protected] - Deputy – Brian Platt 868676 - [email protected] Maintenance – John Steege 400336 [email protected] Deputy – Rob Robertson 866322 [email protected] Catering Supervisor - Dorothy Coleman 866342 [email protected] - Deputy – Annie O’Neill 0786671266 [email protected] Housekeeper – Shirley Hughes 07967 471191 Co-ordinators Confectionary Shop – Cherry Scudder 07545577166 [email protected] Social Media Co-ordinator – Mike Beston 862853 [email protected] FOST Publicity - Mike Crowe 404727 [email protected] FOST Webmaster – Tim Marshall 721557 [email protected] FOST Coffee, Cake ‘n’ Chat Co-ordinator – Pam Phillips 865402 FOST Prize Draw Sales Co-ordinator – Sylvia Lay-Flurrie 862942 [email protected] FOST Membership – Jacqui Robertson 866322 [email protected] 8
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