Archived News - Pantomime
The Pirates of Edlesbray (The curse of the village hall)
A show written by Bekka Prideaux and Jo Butcher
Tickets £6 and £4 from box office 01525 222283
A mad mixture of merriment, mayhem, music and dance, featuring all the usual suspects
Thurs. Fri. Sat. 26th 27th & 28th Jan. 2012 --- 7.30pm
plus 2.00pm Saturday matinee
Licensed bar in aid of Medical Detection Dogs
Matinee refreshments Raffle
Eaton Bray Village Hall, Church Lane, LU6 2DJ
Panto Stuff
The stage is back to normal, its curtains waiting to welcome the next budding actors into the limelight, or the enthusiastic leaders of some of the many exercise classes we have running in the hall. The sound system is waiting in readiness for the next event, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, funeral, quizzes, dances, all the numerous events put on after many hours of hard work by local people from all walks of life.
This year’s Panto was attended by hundreds of people, we hope you all had a good time and will be back next year for some more locally brewed entertainment. This year we had some new faces along with the usual mix of young and old stagers, and everyone seemed to enjoy the experience. Our thanks to all you fantastic people who helped in any way however small, and to all of you who came and supported us.
In order that we might continue to keep up a good standard we still need more volunteers to help, mostly in the field of administration, so if you can phone or email then you can be of assistance. No theatrical experience needed.
We could also do with a few more people to have a go at acting. You may be surprised how much fun it can be.
If you would to help or have any comments good or bad, contact us via the website.
Pete & Ronnie Farrar (Edlesbray Players)
Source: Edlesbray Players
A fun-filled Panta-mime!
Originality is hard to find in traditional pantos - but not in Eaton Bray where once again we have another great family show coming up.
The Edlesbray Players present Santa The Panta, a brand new show written by Dave Jones and directed by Bekka Prideaux.
The show is based around Santa Claus. The evil gangster rap baddie Scrudge has a grudge against Santa because he didn't get a present when he was eight-years-old. When his gang of urchins, who clean the chimneys, go on strike because of lack of pay, Scrudge sees a way of getting his own back on Santa; With the chimneys all blocked, how will Santa manage to deliver all the presents in time?
Santa's band of workers (the Santa squad) are sent in to sort out the problems. Will it all end happily, and will all the kids get their presents? Will the evil Scrudge get what's coming to him?
With all the usual mixture of fun and frivolity, music and dance you can be assured of a fun evening.
Performances are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 27th-29th January starting at 7.30pm with a matinee on Jan 29 starting at 2pm.
Tickets cost £6 for adults £4 for children from the box office 01525 222283. A discount for groups can be negotiated.
There will be a licensed bar and a raffle for the evening shows which is being run to raise funds for some of the village Scouts who are hoping to attend the world Scout jamboree next summer.
Source: Edlesbray Players
Curtain's up on new theatre group in Linslade
A veteren panto dame and leading light in the local am-dram scene is launching Linslade's first theatre group.
Families in the town will be spoilt for choice next Christmas when Gavyn Lugsden's new company, the Curtain Call Theatre Group, opens at The Raven Theatre with Aladdin.
Gavyn, former chairman and member of the Wing Players, an ex-Butlins Redcoat and a children's entertainer, has been involved in am-dram for more than 21 years.
And he knows his stuff when it comes to giving family audiences what they want. He's written seven pantomimes and has had his work performed at The Grove Theatre, in Dunstable.
But what the Eaton Bray actor and writer really wants is to give Linslade its own theatre group based in the second largest theatre in South Bedfordshire.
He said: "It will be the largest drama group in the area and will be based at the 360 seat Raven Theatre at Cedars Upper School.
"It is open to all budding actors, singers, dancers or to those who fancy dressmaking, scenery design, stage management, lighting and working behind the scenes.
"Initially, it will be open to everybody over 15 years of age but plans for a youth group are in the pipeline.
"Our first performance will be a spectacular pantomime - Aladdin - next January and yes, this will put us in competition with the Leighton Buzzard Drama Group!
"We then intend to showcase two further productions in 2011 before getting ready for the pantomime for 2012.
"We have a fantastic theatre and no-one is really taking advantage of it. The LBDG and other groups in Leighton use the Library Theatre but that has a third of the capacity of the Raven.
"I think this is the first drama group for Linslade, something the town has been crying out for. It'll be good to have a bit of healthy competition in the town.
"I have spent nearly 25 years in am-dram and I wanted to get more hands-on. This group will receive expert tuition and advice from qualified individuals, there will be workshops, a big social side, and three shows a year.
"We will be starting from scratch so we need people to help fund-raise and create scenery, backdrops, costumes etc.
"Our Aladdin will be truly extravagant production."
Rehearsals start in August but until then the group plans to enter a float into this year's Leighton Carnival.
"I'd really like as many people to register their interest, via the website, as soon as possible, so I can ascertain the level of interest at this early stage.
"We are also looking for a number of local businesses to sponsor the group, as starting from scratch will be quite an awesome task - but I fancy the challenge!"
For more details call Gavyn 01525 220525 or go to the website www.curtaincalltheatregroup.co.uk.
Source: Curtain Call Theatre Group
Much Ado About ... Saying Thank You
The booing and hissing, laughing and jeering has all died down. The scenery has been dismantled and all the wonderful costumes have been packed away for another year.
This year's panto was an experiment, and we hoped the idea of a Shakespearean connection would not put people off, and it was noticeable from the reaction to the jokes that we had a very knowledgeable audience who really got into the spirit of the thing.
We would like to thank everyone involved for their assistance with the show. We had around 60 people involved, all of which except 4 from the local villages. From the director, through script writer, sound and lighting, actors, make up, hair, costumes, props, painting etc, everybody put in fantastic efforts, battling with the weather and other difficult outside situations, to put on a show (hopefully) enjoyed by nearly 500 people.
We are always impressed with our youngsters since as an age group they are always being criticised in the media. This year we gained quite a few more new actors and helpers but we are always on the lookout for more, particularly organisers. You don't need to go on stage, build scenery or sew costumes but we do need people to run publicity, organise rehearsal dates, and assist with general administration. If you think you've got some spare time, give it a go, it's great fun and very rewarding.
Once again, thanks to everyone who helped and all of you who came. And for all of you who didn't - boo and hiss.
We are always pleased to have feedback, good AND bad, so try the website on www.edlesbrayplayers.co.uk and contact us.
-- Pete and Ronnie
Panto 2010 - Your Panto Needs You!
Following the success of last winter's out of this World frivolities, the time is now upon us when we start nagging you to help with next years' effort. We have most of the major personnel all revved up and raring to go ready to drag out Oscar winning performances from all you talented amateur performers.
To get the very best cast we can, we are holding informal auditions on two separate days in the hope that if you are interested you should be able to make one of them.
Sunday September 13th - 3pm to 5pm at the Coffee Tavern
or
Monday September 14th - 8pm to 10pm at the Coffee Tavern
If you are interested but are unable to make either date, give us a ring, 01525 221583 or email us on farrarpandr@yahoo.co.uk.
We are always open to anyone who would like to help in any way in all departments, i.e. backstage, scenery, wardrobe etc, so if you've always fancied the idea but never got around to it, now is the time. We particularly need scenery painters this year.
Hope to see you all in September.
-- Pete and Ronnie Farrar.
Source: Focus, August/September 2009