Alnwick Theatre Club's Annual General Meeting 

Monday 30th October at 7pm

The Ale Gate, 25 Bondgate Without, Alnwick (upstairs room).

Free drink on arrival.

All past, present and future members welcome

Rob reveals delight as Alnwick Playhouse offers audio-described support for the first time

An Alnwick theatre-lover has become the first blind person to take in an audio-described show at the town’s playhouse.

(Published 02/02/2023 Northumberland Gazette)

Rob Davies enjoyed a performance of the panto by Alnwick Theatre Club with a little help from professional audio describer Caroline Burn who delivered the story, via Bluetooth, from the techies box.

Rob, 80, who is totally blind, said: “I love theatre, but I get very frustrated when I cannot follow what is going on on the stage.

"I thoroughly enjoyed Dick Whittington with audio description delivered to my headphones by Caroline, who normally does this for the big theatres all around England.”

As an extra perk, Rob and his wife, Catherine, were given a backstage ‘hands-on’ guide to a lot of the costumes and props and had the various scenery and lighting explained to them.

Theatre audio description enables blind and visually impaired people to experience and enjoy a performance on an equal basis, with friends and family or independently. It takes the form of a live commentary which provides information on the visual elements of a production as it unfolds.

It describes action that is essential to an understanding of the performances story, as well as other visual information such as the style and design of the production, facial expressions, visual jokes and dancing that a blind or visually impaired member of the audience might otherwise miss.

The description is delivered live in the gaps between the dialogue by a describer, broadcast using infrared, radio or WiFi and picked up by the audience member wearing a special lightweight receiver.

Audio describer Caroline, who hails from Alnwick and works for Talking Theatre, said: "We are delighted to be working with Alnwick Playhouse to provide access performances for the popular productions by local theatre groups and visiting companies.”

Catherine, 75, who also has failing eyesight, said: “It is great that museums and theatres are recognising that this is as much about accessibility for visually impaired people as wheelchair ramps are for others.”

“Rob and I both read all our books, downloaded onto our iPhones, from RNIB or Audible. We really appreciate most technology, as it help with everyday life, with the exception of ‘Shared Spaces’ on roads and silent electric cars.”

Caroline is also set to deliver audio descriptions at upcoming performances of Cinder Path (February 5) Grease (February 16) and Oklahoma (March 21).

“My wife and I have already bought our tickets,” said Rob.

Alnwick Theatre Club has chosen Dick Whittington for the January 2023 panto. It’s a very funny script by Tom Whalley pantomimes and will be a great show. 

If you like singing and dancing and having a really fun time then come along and give it a go. New members can come along for a couple of weeks and see if they would like to stay with us before we ask for Membership subscriptions of £30 per year. 

Youngsters  who are 10 and over are very welcome. There is no membership fee for them up to age 16 but they must be accompanied by a parent, close relative or guardian who is a paid up member.

 We will be rehearsing on Mondays and Thursdays at 7.30 – 9.30 at the Duchess’s Community High School Taylor Drive, Alnwick through the autumn although for chorus initially until half term this will be one night a week

We do 8 shows in January starting on Friday 20th January with 2 shows on Saturday 21st and a matinee on Sunday 22nd. There will then be a few nights off picking up again on Thursday 26th, Friday 27th and two shows on Saturday the 28th to finish. You must be able to commit to all 8 shows plus final and dress rehearsals from Sunday 15th January 2023.

 We will have a read through of the script on Thursday 8th September at 7.30 pm and then auditions for principal roles on Thursday 15th September. Rehearsals will start in earnest on Thursday 22nd September.

We are delighted to announce that our first production in the refurbished Playhouse will be the pantomime Peter Pan.  The Panto will be performed in January 2020 and rehearsals will begin when the club reconvenes for the read-through of the script on Monday 2​nd September at 7.30 pm at St Paul's School, Alnwick, where rehearsals will be held every Monday and Thursday - see here for directions

We are always looking for new members, so why not come along and join us on the 2nd September. Whether you are interested in performing on stage or assisting backstage, we would love to see you - see here for joining information

We are holding a Summer (!) BBQ at Alnwick Rugby Club for all past, current & future members, 12pm Sunday 11th August. Bring your own food for the barbecue and a brolly!! Bring the family along & anyone interested in joining the club & being involved in the panto. Enjoy!