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Last Season
May 2009
For our May play we decided that to help celebrate our anniversary we should look at performing a North East play and which better to choose than "And a Nightingale Sang" by C.P. Taylor.
Jean Goodfellow directed the play and immersed us all with the pathos and camaraderie of the period.
The cast enjoyed working with Jean at rehearsals and hopefully the audiences enjoyed the nostalgia of the play. Two newcomers on stage were Lisa Gladstone and Daniel Watkins. The stage manager was David Gibson.
The talented crew brought C.P.Taylor's classic wartime tale to the stage excellently. Sophie Lewis delivered an assured performance as Helen Stott while Don Beattie was excellent as the straight-talking Andie Ryan and raised many a-laugh with his dry humour anf frank attitude.
Teresa Cairns fitted into her role as Peggy Stott comfortably and was every bit as forceful and mothering as her character demanded while Peter Biggers, as Norman, and John Firth as George Stott, should both be applauded.
A note also about new members Lisa Gladstone and Daniel Watkins, who played lovers Joyce Stott and soldier-boy Eric Parker, and between them, developed a believable chemistry.
The fact that the spirit of this period was captured so magnificently was no small part due to director Jean Goodfellow.
Goodfellow left her own mark on this wartime story, packing the performance with nostalgia and saturating it with the pathos of the period.
January 2009
As the Theatre Club entered its Diamond Jubilee year, another world premiere"I Geordius", was staged for our loyal audiences in Alnwick..
After last year's success with "Dracula" Eyelave Forsters was persuaded to take up the pen again and craft a totally original story about the opening of Hadrian's Wall.
Sophie Lewis was the director of the show, choreographer was Sally Miller. Kevin Thompson was musical director and the stage manager was David Gibson. Film by Nick Lewis.
They came, they saw, they conquered - comedy that is, Alnwick Theatre Club's, Roman - themed pantomime - "I Geordius" - was packed with laughter and gags of epic proportions.
A coliseum full of jokes, came from every angle, with plenty of slapstick, double entendres, one liners, hysterical regional jibes and a funny look at the Geordie language.
The toga triumph told the tale of the opening of Hadrian's wall. And just like last year the show contained the building blocks of a classic panto.
There were songs, a delightful dose of "She's behind you" and "Oh, yes she is" and mayhem a plenty with egg splatting and water spraying. And of course there was a dame. Cue the hysterically funny Jimmy Dodds
There were some great set pieces too. Like last year a video sequence kicked off the panto, while the talented Alnwick Academy of dancers opened the second half beautifully.
Beautiful backdrops, colourful costumes and great directing and choreography made the show a treat.
But for all that, comes the need for a great cast. And they delivered. Peter Lewis (Geordius) and Jimmy were exceptionally funny, while the duet betwen Jimmy and Robin Lewsey (Hadrian Caesar) was a highlight, rightly getting the biggest cheer of the night. The Roman soldiers played by Gary Brown (Maximus) and Nick Lewis (Minimus) kept the banter ticking over while the pairing of Anna Hope (Cleo) and Karen McCarthy (Toni) worked well.
But picking out just a few is unfair beacause the whole cast played their part excellently.
August 2008
We dedicated this show to Prella Bell, a long standing member of the club - friend and mentor to us all,
who passed away in June after a short illness.
Prella loved comedy both high farce and the sort of comedy that Alan Ayckbourn writes superbly;
drawn from the observations of ordinary life and its rich characters.
Jane Sanderson made her directorial debut with the Theatre Club . We look forward to many more shows from her. Peter Biggers was producer, and Jean Goodfellow was stage manager. Phillipa Mawer was a welcome newcomer to the cast.
Excerpts from a review of the play
There were only six characters and one set - the inside of a house - and the players should be congratulated for their professionalism and enthusiasm in captivating the audience. Carol Lawrence was excellent as Diana the housewife who breaks down in the second half when everything gets on top of her. Matt Bush played Paul very well; Gary Brown added some light relief to the plot and Phillipa Mawer should be commended as the sullen new mother. Sally Miller was my favourite as Margo the long suffering wife of Gordon. The part of Colin (Robin Lewsey) was executed with distinction.
Northumberland Gazette
