For
archival material click on Memories and follow the links
........
..NODA
Review............
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...
. Scrooge The Musical..........
Bridlington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society
Scrooge The Musical
Directed by Pauline Pope MD Geoff Allanach Choreographers
Pauline Pope and Caroline Ibbetson
Spotlight Theatre, Bridlington
16th December 2015
This was a very entertaining production of a show which can
sometimes be a challenge for everyone. Obviously any production
of this traditional story relies heavily on the actor playing
Ebenezer Scrooge and here we had a very good portrayal from
long standing society member and performer Bob Downing. Throughout
the entire show his years of experience brought a whole range
of skills and emotions to the fore and all his frustrations
showed at the right times. This gave him the chance to show
a different side to things when he comes to his senses.
However, he couldn’t have done it on his own and there
were some very good supporting performances with Mike Rawson
strong as Jacob Marley as was Jamie Hughes as the Ghost of
Christmas Present. Pat Hughes as the Ghost of Christmas also
worked well with Scrooge.
I very much enjoyed a good performance from John Allanach
as Young Ebenezer and the Nephew and his work with Sophie
Brown, playing Isabel was excellent. Tim Harrison was very
likeable as Bob Cratchit and Mrs Cratchit (Caroline Ibbetson)
and all the family were nicely close-knit with Tiny Tim, played
by Isadora Carvill-Belt, being lovely.
The main chorus numbers were good and taken at the right
pace for me with the highlights being December the Twenty
Fifth (Kenneth Davison and Maggie Davies as the Fezziwigs),
Thank You Very Much (George Ansell portraying Tom Jenkins
enthusiastically) and the full company in The Minister’s
Cat.
The set was very simple and utilised a super back cloth,
designed and produced by society members, and stage props
and box sets where necessary.
All in all this was a very good start to Christmas.
TONY HARRIS
NODA North East District 3 Representative
Spotlight
car sticker tees off at Bridlington Golf Club
2015
Bridlington
Golf Club is amongst the first to display the new Spotlight
Theatre car sticker. Lady Captain for 2016, Jan Kerr,
put stickers in several golf buggies to help generate
awareness of the volunteer-run-theatre.
Designed
to sit nicely in the space left by the removal of the
now defunct tax disc, Brid’s favourite little venue
has a batch of stickers to give away free of charge and
is hoping that as many vehicles as possible with put one
in their windscreen.
Mike
Sheldon, Chairman of the Spotlight, said:
‘It’s hard to believe but, although we’ve
been based on West Street for over 15 years, lots of people
still haven’t heard about us let alone visited us.
The idea is to get our name seen around town and encourage
more people to come and enjoy a show’.
As
a thank you to those who place a sticker in their car, the theatre
is undertaking a monthly prize draw.
Mike explained: ‘Anyone who takes a sticker and chooses
to leave their contact details will be included in a draw to
win two complimentary tickets to one of our live screening performances.
So they’ll get the chance to see the best theatre in the
world, right here in Bridlington, for free’.
Spotlight
car stickers are available from the theatre on performance evenings
Image:
Jan Kerr, Lady Captain 2016 on the green at Bridlington Golf
Club.
Booking
office move for the Spotlight Theatre
2015
From
early January it will be easier to book tickets for shows at
the Spotlight Theatre as Brid’s favourite little venue
has signed-up to the Spa’s new ticketing hub so that seats
will be bookable online.
For
the past 15 years, tickets for shows at the theatre on West
Street could only be booked in person at Bridlington Blinds
and Curtains. But customer needs have changed and offering the
convenience of booking at any time of day has driven the new
approach. The addition of live streaming performances has also
meant that people are visiting the volunteer-run theatre from
further afield and just can’t get into town to book.
Mike
Sheldon, Chairman of the Spotlight, said:
‘Linda and the team at Bridlington Blinds and Curtains
have done a great job for us but we have to move with the times.
A significant number of our customers want to book tickets in
the evening when they’re browsing the internet. Now they
can ensure they get the best seats in the house from the comfort
of their own home’.
The
Spotlight is one of the first local organisations to sign up
to the new system which will allow visitor attractions other
than the Spa to utilise their booking facilities.
Andrew
Aldis, General Manager of the Spa, Bridlington believes
this is a major step in encouraging the town to work together
to benefit everyone: ‘We have invested heavily in new
technology to make this happen. It provides a safe and secure
option for organisations, such as The Spotlight, that want
to reach to more customers. There will still be the option
of booking by phone and, of course, people can still pop into
the Spa and book in person. For visitors to the town, the
fact we’re right on the seafront will mean they can
discover what’s on at The Spotlight just by strolling
down the prom’.
Spotlight
club report
20th
December 2015
It’s
been a week of panto pandemonium. Packed houses for Mother Goose
have been raising the roof and the sound of ‘He’s
behind you’ has been echoing down West Street on a regular
basis. The show itself is a laugh a minute and something the
cast enjoy as much as the audience. However, it’s a really
physical performance and on the plus side, all the running around
on stage has helped at least one member of the cast shed a few
unwanted pounds. On the down side, the Queen of Gooseland had
a mishap and cut her finger on her tiara – proving that
pretend diamonds are definitely not a girl’s best friend.
It has to be said that the audience has played its part in this
show superbly, never missing a cue and never needing a prompt
to respond to an ‘Oh no it isn’t’. And it
would appear joining in with the jokes is as much fun for groups
of OAPs as it is for the youngest girlguiding group, Rainbows.
It would seem that you’re never too old or too young to
giggle at a Dame - or to heckle one. The best audience quip
so far has been from a young man of around ten years old while
they were being chased by ghosts and ghoulies if they’d
got the number for Ghostbusters. With timing like that, we hope
he auditions for our next show, Annie.
After
a brief rest for Christmas, Mother Goose will return to our
stage in the New Year. We simply can’t wait.
Spotlight
club report
13th
December
It’s
been a week of tears and laughter. The touching tale of Scrooge
has been having its sell out audiences reaching for the tissues.
While there’s plenty to smile about, this classic Christmas
story has some poignant moments. If you’re lucky enough
to have a ticket, don’t forget your hankie.
Meanwhile
our glorious, rip-roaring panto Mother Goose has got its audiences
rolling in the aisles. The only tears in this show are from
laughter. With a wise-cracking Dame leading a cast who appear
to have as much fun as the audience, it will be keeping folk
giggling well into January.
We
also had a very different version of Jane Eyre on our big screen.
Another performance from the National Theatre, this stylistic
adaptation took an inventive approach to bringing the story
to life. And we’re taking bets on whether the spirited
central performance will pick up an award.
We’ve
been handing out our new Spotlight car stickers at all these
productions. If you fancy displaying one, you can collect one
from the theatre. And if you do, leave us some contact details
and we’ll include you in a monthly prize draw for two
free tickets.
Last
but not least, we’ve just announced that our Spring musical
will be Annie. There’s already been lots of interest from
youngsters about joining the cast and we’ll be releasing
details about auditions very soon.
Putting
the pazazz into panto
Pantos
are a bit like Marmite – you either love ‘em
or hate ‘em. If your’re a fan you’ll
find Mother goose, with its jolly japes and jaunty tunes
a cracking way to pass a couple of hours.
The
tale isn’t perhaps as familiar as some so here it
is in a nutshell (or possibly, egg shell): Candy the Goose
arrives from Gooseland to settle in a village full of
poor folk who are under the thumb of their penny-pinching
landlord, the Baron. Candy, who lays golden eggs, provides
them with a way of paying off their debts. And chaos ensues.
Despite
the unusual story line there’s the usual cast of
characters. And in this well-cast production, each plays
their part to perfection. Gertie, aka Mother Goose, is
the archetypal Dame. She’s as brash and brassy as
they come but has a heart as big as her monumental wigs,
which seem to change colour more often than Christmas
lights.
Then
there’s Billy, her son, who quickly becomes the kiddies’
bezzie mate. He romps around encouraging them to sing, shout
and stamp their feet until the excitement registers on the Richter
Scale. And credit must go to the youngsters (and not so young)
in the audience who deliver their traditional responses with
no need for a prompt. ‘He’s behind you’ and
‘Oh no it isn’t’ were bang on cue throughout.
And there was some seriously sophisticated heckling from one
ten year old who told the cast to ‘Call Ghostbusters’
when they had trouble with ghosts and ghoulies – a word
which provided much merriment.
Every
panto needs a Principal Boy and Girl and in this show they’re
Colin and Sally. The ‘goodies’ always struggle to
make an impression to my mind but these two make their mark
by singing most of the songs, which they do incredibly well.
Of
course, because this is a fairy tale, there are fairies too
– the good one sparkles beautifully and the evil one sneers
magnificently. But of all the supporting players it’s
Snitch and Snatch the Baron’s young henchmen, who give
the stand-out performance with a version of ‘Little People’,
from Les Miserables, that could give the original a run for
its money.
As
you would expect, everyone lives happily ever after, which is
just as it should be. But happiest of all appeared to be the
audience which must be the toughest test for any panto. This
one passed it with flying colours – not to mention a flying
fish! Sorry, did I not mention Nemo….
A
Scrooge to lift your spirits.
How
many of us, given the chance, wouldn’t lead our
lives differently? Maybe this is why the story of Scrooge
has such an enduring appeal. The thought that it’s
never too late to alter the course of your life and to
be a better person resonates with us all to some degree.
And certainly that message comes across loud and clear
in the Spotlight Theatre’s wonderfully exuberant
production of Scrooge the Musical.
From
the opening notes of Sing a Christmas Carol, to the final
rousing chorus of the show’s most famous song, Thank
You Very Much, this festive offering from Bridlington
Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society rolls merrily along
like a like a sleigh ride on a snowy star-filled evening.
All
eyes were on octogenarian Bob Downing who brought real
pathos to the role of Ebenezer, his advanced years bringing
added poignancy to the message that it’s never too
late to change the way you are. And his transformation
from miserly curmudgeon to munificent benefactor after
a few glugs of the Milk of Human Kindness is truly heartfelt.
But
this wasn’t a one man show. This is a true ensemble piece
and the company worked well together to fill the stage with
a mix of memorable Dickensian characters. There’s Tom
Jenkins, the cheekiest of cockneys who sings and dances on Scrooge’s
coffin. There’s the bubbliest of Fezziwigs, who throw
an office party that fairly fizzles with festive fun. And there’s
the happiest of Cratchits, whose poor home is rich with love,
especially for Tiny Tim who pulls harder at your heart strings
than a John Lewis Christmas ad. And, of course, there are ghosts
– some real, some special effects, all suitably chilling
in one way or another.
The
story, as everyone knows, is blessed with a happy ending. And
when it comes, redemption for Scrooge is touchingly believable
amid a blaze of present giving and glass chinking, all rounded
off with a good old knees up. I can’t think of a better
way to celebrate the season to be jolly.
Spotlight
club report
30th
November
It’s
been a week of heads up and heads down. For those interested
in treading the boards there’s advance notice of two chances
to take to the stage. Thursday (3 Dec) is the deadline for applications
to take part in the National Youth Theatre auditions, being
held for the first time at The Spotlight. Full details can be
found on Northern Lights Theatre’s website. Friday (4
Dec) sees a read-through in the bar for the drama section’s
spring production of ‘Kindly Leave the Stage’. Just
turn up on the night for this if you’d like to take part.
Cast
members of both our winter shows – Mother Goose and Scrooge
the Musical – are giving their all in the run up to their
December opening nights. Despite this, Panto Dame, Mike Hammond
and Candy the Goose are taking time out to visit residents of
White Rose Lodge care home this week for a bit of pantomime
fun. And a new cast member has just joined this show –
Nemo, the Flying Fish. And yes, he does fly.
We’ve
also been busy putting the finishing touches to a batch of golden
eggs for our entry in the Bridlington Christmas Tree Festival
which opens this weekend. We’re really pleased to be taking
part in this event for the first time.
And
we weren’t the only people grafting hard this week. Bridlington
School took over the theatre for the day as part of their drama
studies curriculum work. The pupils were involved with all aspects
of how the theatre works from lighting and sound to actual performance.
It was a great experience for everyone involved.
Spotlight
club report
21st
November
It’s
been a week of big birds and big challenges. Candy, aka Mother
Goose, took her first tentative steps on stage. The costume
has been created in-house by Margaret McIntosh and everyone
who sees her agrees she’s a mighty fine bird who is sure
to make a lot of friends over the coming weeks. Once the panto
gets underway in mid-December, we’ll be running a Candy-n-Me
competition to find the best selfie taken with our feathered
star. And while our panto may have the fluffiest goose, we definitely
have the tallest Baron. New member, David Watson, is 6 ‘
10” tall. Other news from Team Panto, is that there’s
a show-stealing duet of Little People from Les Miserables by
two of our junior members.
Team
Scrooge has introduced extra rehearsals to its schedule. This
musical has over 20 fabulous songs in it and those that involve
the entire company are wonderfully atmospheric. This is definitely
a show that will get you in the mood for Christmas.
The
theatre building needs constant attention and this week it was
the turn of the ruckling carpet in the auditorium to have work
done on it. The carpet fitters returned to, literally, straighten
things out. So it’s now perfect for our next big screen
performance – The Winter’s Tale, the first play
from the newly formed Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company on 27
Nov.
Looking
ahead to our Spring/Summer show, we’re in the process
of approaching music publishers as to what might be available
to licence for amateur use – which can be a tricky business.
Four musicals made our short-list but, so far, two aren’t
available to us. We have high hopes for those that we haven’t
received a decision on.
Becoming
Ebenezer - 3
1th November
It
strikes me that Ebenezer may have the gestation period
of an elephant. He’s still proving an elusive chap
to pin down.
There
is news on his wardrobe though. The red tights have been
dropped (not literally). And we’re back on the trail
for the director’s preference - red slippers. But
all those available seem to have embroidered crests on
the front. Or worse still, pom-poms.
And
there is now a key accessory to add to the lucky muffler
– a walking stick topped with a silver horse’s
head. It looks expensive – so maybe this Ebenezer
doesn’t mind spending on himself, which would be
an interesting twist.
The
words still aren’t nailed. Bob estimates he’s putting
in five or six hours most days. He’s faring better with
the songs. But a single song can take a whole day to learn and
there are 12 for Bob alone. ‘I hate people’ is particularly
tricky.
‘It’s
a bit of tongue twister’ said Bob. ‘Just look at
those opening lines’. I did. And, to be honest, I was
hard pushed to say them let alone sing them. The words are complicated
and the pace is fast - scavengers and sycophants and flatterers
and fools, pharisess and parasites and hypocrits and ghouls.
It sounded like a 19tt century attempt at a rap – fortunately
without the rude words. And it made the more famous song, ‘Thank
you very much’ look as simple as a nursery rhyme.
Bob
remarked it was a bit like a Patterson. I’d never heard
of a Patterson. It turns out I’d misheard. But I’d
never heard of a patter song either. ‘Gilbert and Sullivan
were great exponents of them. The Major General’s song
from The Pirates of Penzance is a classic example’. Bob
proceeded to sing it and I pointed out he did it without a trip
or a stutter. ‘Yes, well, I’ve sung that one many
times’, he explained.
Our
chat was interrupted by the irritated director telling off one
of the cast who was chewing gum. ‘If you swallow it while
you’re singing, don’t expect me to give you mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation.’ I don’t think the girl will make
the same mistake again.
My
final view this week was Ebenezer with the ghost of Christmas
present poring over a ring binder containing the first half
of the script. All I could hear of the conversation were worrying
sighs accompanied by several ‘Oh dears’. On the
plus side, there are still 21 days to go to opening night.
Spotlight
club report
8th
November
As
the last fireworks November 5th fade, the theme this week has
been remember, remember. Both senior companies have been hard
at work learning lines. The cast of Scrooge and the cast of
Mother Goose are both hurtling towards their respective opening
nights in December. In our busy theatre, rehearsal time is at
a premium so they’ve been criss-crossing each other to
gain important stage time.
Behind
the scenes there’s been plenty of activity on both shows
too. Candy the Goose is well on the way to being brought to
life for this year’s panto. She’s sure to be a show-stopper.
Meanwhile the painted backdrop for Scrooge is showing a strong
resemblance to the Old Town’s Georgian High Street –
with St Paul’s Cathedral included for good measure. A
new chop saw is assisting with the construction of a bow fronted
shop fronts.
There
were plenty of ooohs and ahhhs on Bonfire Night in the auditorium
thanks to Ian Keable’s one man show about Charles Dickens’
conjouring skills. A talented magician himself, Mr K managed
to combine a series of entertaining tricks and a host of interesting
facts, with the obligatory assistance of members of the audience.
And in a twist on pulling a rabbit out of a hat, having put
raw ingredients into a topper he produced a cake with a lighted
candle on top. It tasted delicious too
Finally
if you want to fill the space left by the removal of the tax
disc on your windscreen, then we may have just the thing. Coming
soon are Spotlight car stickers. Don’t be seen without
one
Becoming
Ebenezer - 2
8th November
There
still appears to be very little sign of Ebenezer at rehearsals.
At least to me. I think I thought by now he’d have
sprung onto the stage fully formed like Athena from Zeus’s
skull. But he still seems to be stuck somewhere in Bob’s
head. Perhaps he’s proving tricky to pin down as
a character?
It
would seem to be a lot more pragmatic than that. Bob is
still concentrating on the words.
Learning
the lines are all consuming at the moment. The words are
the first thing Bob thinks of in the morning and the last
thing on his mind at night. And if he wakes up in the
wee hours in need of the loo – he’s thinking
about his lines then too
But
no matter how hard you try, apparently there are words that
just won’t stick. The one that’s evading Bob this
time is ‘infernal’. ‘I’ll just have
to find another word to replace it’, said Bob.
So how do you go about learning a script? What’s the secret?
‘Just grafting’, said Bob. ‘I just sit down
and repeat my lines time and time and time again. I’ve
put my life on hold to learn this part. Everything has stopped
– apart from going to church.’
It
all sounds too much like hard work to me but not for Bob. He
enjoys every minute of the theatrical experience. He always
has done since he made his first appearance on the amateur stage
with the Stockton- on- Tees drama group. He had one line in
a production which he invited all his friends too. But when
his big moment came and he delivered the words , ‘Don’t
pay any attention to me, Ma’am’, they were spoken
off stage. So no-one actually saw his first performance. Well,
as Ebenezer he’ll be on stage for most of the two hours
and 20 minutes running time, so there’ll be no missing
him in this production.
But
with just four weeks to opening night, there must be something
that Bob believes will help bring Ebenezer to life. ‘Well,
there’s my lucky muffler. And I’m considering wearing
red tights. Albert Finney wore them in the film version and
I thought they’d be a good substitute for red shoes that
the director wants me in but that I can’t find. Oh, and
he’s going to have a stoop’. It sounds like a very
good start.
Spotlight
club report
31st
October
It’s
not surprising that the end of October has been a week
of ghouls and ghosts. Five performances of the vampire
classic Dracula, a joint production with 9 Degrees East,
delivered a unique take on this familiar horror story.
The combination of minimal sets, striking costumes and
a sinister surround-sound audio track created an unsettling
experience that definitely made a few spines tingle.
And
as one company exits stage left, another enters. The ghosts
of Christmas past, present and future, along with the
rest of the cast of Scrooge
the Musical,
have just five weeks to get word and song perfect before
they open in early December.
This
hugely popular West End show is a big undertaking especially
for Bob Downing who, at 82 years young, has taken on the central
role of the miserly Ebenezer. Everyone is giving 110% to make
sure this all-singing, all-dancing show is a big fat winter
hit. The Director’s dog, Alfie, has been keeping a close
eye on rehearsals and reassuring Bob that you can teach an old
dog new tricks.
This
week too, an all stations alert for help went out after a plea
from our props department. They are desperately trying to find
rabbits and pheasants to hang outside a shop on the set of Scrooge.
Stuffed ones, papier mache ones, fabric ones – as long
as they look realistic we don’t mind. Any offers are most
welcome
Spotlight
club report
25th
October
This
week has been one of heroes. West Yorkshire Playhouse brought
their sell-out tour of Beryl to the Spotlight. This play by
Maxine Peake told the story of Beryl Burton, a cyclist who against
all the odds and through her own grit and determination, remained
at the top of her sport for 25 years. With over 90 domestic
titles to her name as well as seven world titles and an OBE,
she’s now largely a forgotten hero. This affectionate
portrait gave her the recognition she deserves and, as performances
go, it was a belter.
The
Royal Shakespeare Company’s much praised production of
Henry V brought the heroes of the Battle of Agincourt to our
big screen on the actual 600th anniversary of the famous victory
over the French. As you would expect from the RSC, it was stirring
stuff with an outstanding central performance from Alex Hassell
as the King of England who would be King of France.
Meanwhile
our own local hero, Bob Downing, has been working hard on his
next big challenge. At 82 years young, he’s taken on the
lead in December’s show, Scrooge the Musical. Although
some would say Bob was born to play the part, the role is a
huge undertaking and no mean feat at any age. It’s heartening
to see one of our most experienced and seasoned actors at the
centre of this production which is being staged at The Spotlight
for the first time.
And
there’s been heroic efforts from the techy team during
final preparations for Dracula. They’ve had some seriously
late nights in the run-up to the show’s opening. Much
secrecy surrounds the special effects and the costume design
which will be revealed during the five day run this week. For
the performance on Halloween, the audience is invited to come
in fancy dress. All vampires are welcome.
Spotlight
club report
17th
October
This
week we’ve been dealing with the issues of fictional noblemen
- Count Dracula and The Prince of Denmark. Dracula continues
to take shape as it rushes headlong toward its opening in less
than a week. The Nine Degrees East/Spotlight Theatre co-production
of the famous gothic novel is making the theatre’s sound
and lighting equipment turn somersaults and do things we never
dreamed of to enhance the chilling storyline. The techy team
is, rightly, feeling very proud of itself.
The
live screening of the National Theatre’s production of
Hamlet was a storming success with its Sold Out audience. It
more than lived up to its hype and it was amazing to be part
of an experience that had theatre-goers around the world at
fever pitch. This one performance was seen on more than 1,400
screens in 25 countries and drew the largest global audience
since National Theatre Live began in 2009. The play’s
star, Benedict Cumberbatch, made a plea on behalf of Save the
Children as the cast took their curtain call. He quoted from
a poem by British-Somali poet Warsan Shire, which included the
lines: ‘No-one leaves home unless home is the mouth of
a shark… No-one puts their child in a boat unless the
water is safer than the land.’ It was a thought-provoking
evening all round.
In
general, the theatre is busier than ever with something happening
most days. Rehearsals for Scrooge the Musical are picking up
pace, the theatre’s junior company, S.P.O.T.S, is making
Saturday mornings fun for local kids and professional companies
continue to make Brid’s favourite little venue a port
of call on their touring itinerary. This week it was the turn
of Badapple Theatre who took to the stage for an evening with
a new comedy about a village footie team. It’s certainly
an exciting time.
Becoming
Ebenezer - 1
De
Niro famously drove a cab in New York to get into character
for his role in Taxi Driver. And apparently almost the
entire supporting cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest checked themselves into a psychiatric ward prior
to filming the Oscar winning movie.
So
it seemed a good idea to ask our very own Bob Downing
how he plans to create his role as Ebenezer in Scrooge
the Musical. Would he reveal similar sterling efforts
to ‘become’ the miserable miser? Has he refused
to put the central heating on? Is he learning his lines
by candlelight? Has he swapped his undies for long-johns?
I could only hope.
It
turns out Bob’s no method actor. He’s more in the
Laurence Olivier mould – remember his advice to Dustin
Hoffman who went to extreme lengths when preparing for Marathon
Man? ‘Try acting, it’s so much easier’.
Having
just spent an evening with Bob at rehearsals, it’s clear
that he’s just doing what comes naturally. He takes his
lead from the words and the director. Bob initially gave Ebenezer
a ‘gritty, gratey’ voice. But when the director
heard it she said ‘pitch it higher’. So he did.
The director also demanded a bigger nightshirt – despite
Bob’s claims that it was only tight on him because he
was wearing a jumper underneath. ‘I haven’t put
on weight in years’ he insisted.
Bob
doesn’t suffer from nerves either. So what does worry
him? The unsurprising answer is learning lines. He aims to be
word perfect for this show by the end of November. And what
if he’s not? ‘Well, there’s always the prompt’
he confessed. When Bob performed in the King and I, during one
scene there was a prompt positioned under a bed that was centre
stage. I couldn’t help thinking that post-it notes might
have been an easier option.
As
it stands Bob’s word perfect for his opening speech. Mind
you, it is only the one word, ‘Cratchit!’ But you
have to start somewhere.
We’ll
be seeing how Bob brings Ebenezer to life as rehearsals progress.
I, for one, can’t wait.
82
year old wins lead role in Scrooge.
Possibly
the oldest amateur actor to play a lead role in a musical
has just been cast by a Bridlington theatre.
Octogenarian,
Bob Downing, has just secured the part of Ebenezeer Scrooge
in the Spotlight Theatre’s production of Scrooge
the Musical which opens at the West Street venue in December.
Director,
Pauline Pope said:
‘At the best of times, Bob can be grumpy –
so the part could’ve been written for him! Seriously,
on the night, Bob was simply the best man for the job.
Over the years, his voice has matured and his deep, rich
tones will suit the role perfectly’.
Taking
on the role of Scrooge at any age is no mean feat. The character
is on stage for most of the two hour plus show and has 12 featured
songs – as well as numerous songs with the full company.
Bob joins an august list of actors to have tackled the part,
including Albert Finnery who starred in the 1970 award-winning
film and, more recently, Tommy Steele who played the role to
much acclaim on the London stage.
One
of the founder members on the volunteer-run venue on West Street,
Bridlington, Bob has been treading the boards there since it
opened its doors in 2000. And before the group had a permanent
home, Bob performed at venues around the town, including The
Spa.
Bob
quickly established himself as one of the cast regulars after
joining Bridlington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society in
1979. He has played numerous leading roles including the King
in The King and I.
Bob
claims this role will be his ‘swan song’ but after
a lifetime’s involvement with amateur theatre he could
still have years of acting ahead. On the professional stage,
Sir Michael Horden played his final role in the BBC’s
much admired adaptation of Middlemarch at 83. Sir John Guilgud
did even better. He played his last lead role at the grand old
age of 86 in Peter Greenaway’s ‘Prospero’s
Books’ and he continued to make cameo appearances for
several years after that.
Spotlight
club report
11th
October
This
week we’ve been proving that there’s nothing like
a dame. The casting for this year’s panto, Mother Goose,
took place amidst much merriment. And, of course, no panto is
complete without a dame and we have one of the best in the business
putting on a big frock for us. (Oh yes, he is). Jokes, only
slightly better than those in Christmas crackers, are on the
cards – and it’s all part of the fun.
David
Suchet left behind Poiret and his little grey cells behind to
perform the role of Lady Bracknell, twice on our big screen.
A live and an Encore performance of The Importance of Being
Earnest played to packed houses both on West Street and at The
Vaudeville Theatre London where it was broadcast from. As you
would expect, it was a sparkling, witty concoction with seriously
laugh-out loud moments. The well-known ‘Handbag’
line took an even more central role as the team at Tamaras Ladies
Fashions had generously given us a handbag to add to the now
famous Spotlight raffle. The winner was delighted.
Earnest
is just one of an ever-growing programme of live screenings
of plays, operas and ballets that have taken the town by storm.
This has now turned into a truly global experience with recent
live broadcasts from San Francisco, New York and Moscow. Further
live screenings are lined up for the Autumn and Winter season
and with some truly outstanding productions waiting in the wings.
The
Tourist Information Centre carry details of our programme and
they asked us this week if we could provide more comprehensive
information on what we’re showing. This is great feedback
and we’re looking at how we might achieve this with our
existing resources. If anyone can help with this, we’d
love to hear from you.
Spotlight
club report
29th
September
This
week we’ve literally been cooking on gas. Many of our
volunteers put on their aprons and got out their mixing bowls
to bake for our Macmillan Coffee Morning. We served a range
of cakes Mary Berry would’ve been proud of, ran back-stage
tours, showed a live screening taster on our big screen and
raised £373 for the charity. It was a great team effort
and we enjoyed welcoming so many visitors – thanks to
everyone who turned up on the day for being so generous.
The
run of our hugely popular summer show sadly came to an end.
Tuesdays won’t be the same without our fix of 60s and
70s inspired music and laughter. But as one show ends, another
goes into rehearsal and work will soon start on the theatre’s
Christmas offering, Scrooge the Musical. Before that takes to
the stage, our autumn in-house production, Dracula, will be
sending shivers down the spine of its audience at the end of
October. Rehearsals for this are well underway.
.
Last
week also saw two very different live screenings. The National
Theatre’s Coriolanus burst onto our big screen and transported
its audience to a brutal and violent Rome while the Royal Ballet’s
spellbinding Romeo and Juliet captivated its audience two days
later
More
live screening transmissions are being added to our programme
- next up is the brilliantly witty Importance of Being Earnest
in early October, with David Suchet, better known as Poirot,
in the role of Lady Bracknell. The ever growing list of productions
that are becoming available is stretching our technical team
so we’re looking for additional volunteers to learn how
to run these transmissions. Anyone interested in receiving training
should contact bob.opera@talktalk.net.
Air
cadets salute Battle of Britain heroes
21st September
Members
of Bridlington’s 252 Squadron air cadets were on
duty at The Spotlight Theatre on Friday 18 September.
Seven
cadets, along with Commanding Officer Bob Hill, attended
the live screening performance of The Battle of Britain
75th Anniversary concert and formed a guard of honour
at the theatre entrance as the audience arrived.
The
cadets were keen to find out more about the iconic conflict
and learn about the vital role the RAF played in the defence
of the country. The concert, part of the BBC’s day
of commemoration of the Battle, featured music from the
war era as well as readings from actors such as Simon
Callow along with the moving testimony of Spitfire pilots.
Many
of the audience too had a connection with the RAF. One man had
served an apprenticeship with the RAF while a lady was there
to remember her Dad who served during World War 11 and was based
at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.
Mike
Sheldon, Chairman of the Spotlight, presented a cheque to the
cadets which will be added to funds already collected for the
Wings Appeal. Money placed in collecting boxes in the theatre
bar will also be donated to the appeal.
Mike
said the Spotlight was proud to have the youngsters join them
for the evening:
‘The
cadets are a credit to the town and some of them could become
the RAF personnel of the future. We felt it was important to
share this event with them, in particular to help them understand
the sacrifice made by previous generations – many of whom
were not much older than some cadets are now.’
New
talent in the Spotlight.
September
The
Spotlight Theatre is looking for more youngsters to join
its junior company, S.P.O.T.S.
And
in order to accommodate more budding actors and actresses,
the successful Saturday morning sessions are being split
into two age groups
7-11
year olds will meet between 10am and 11.30am while 12-15
year olds will get together between 11.30am and 1.00pm
The
90 minute sessions will cover training in various aspects of
performance including dance, drama and singing. There may also
be opportunities to gain an insight into stage crafts such as
lighting and sound. . Time will also be spent rehearsing for
any show currently in development.
Sophie
Brown, who directs S.P.O.T.S., hopes that by having a younger
and older group, productions can be selected that are more age
appropriate and that allow performers a choice of roles. She
added:
‘The
sessions are lots of fun and uniquely they take place in a real
theatre so the youngsters get an authentic theatrical experience.
It’s important to say that the skills learnt aren’t
just relevant on stage, they also help develop essential life
skills such as team work and communication.’
Earlier
in the year S.P.O.T.S performed in the children’s musical
Dazzle to great acclaim and the aim is to tackle both full-length
musicals and short pieces in the future, with parts for everyone
who wishes to participate.
Sophie
emphasised that the sessions are open to all:‘Youngsters
of all abilities are welcome. We’re looking for enthusiasm
as well as talent. Commitment is important too. Rehearsing a
production week-after-week takes real dedication.’
S.P.O.T.S
meets every Saturday during term time at The Spotlight Theatre
on West Street from 12 September. Thanks to a generous sponsor,
taking part in the sessions is free.
Spotlight
club report
6th
September
It’s
been a week of strange noises and familiar tunes.
The
techy team has been creating spooky sounds using all sorts of
items – ukuleles to jam jars – as they work on the
sound design for the in-house production of
Dracula. This atmospheric production is due
on stage in October and is set to be a real spine-tingler.
Meanwhile
the music of the 60s and 70s continues to bring in full houses
on Tuesday evenings. The run of It’s Yesterday Once More
finishes at the end of September. Please book in advance if
you want to see one of the last remaining shows as we have had
Sold Out every performance so far.
Two
brilliant big screen performances wowed audiences. The National
Theatre’s current production, The Beaux’ Stratagem,
written in 1709, proved to be a lot funnier than many 21st century
comedies while the re-showing of the Old Vic’s The Crucible
was outstanding yet terrifying, as the consequences of false
accusations took their toll on a small community.
We
also received confirmation that members of Bridlington Air Cadets
will be joining us to remember ‘the few’ at the
forthcoming live screening of the
Battle of Britain Anniversary Concert from Biggin Hill on 18
September. The day before that, we have the
spectacular Aida on Sydney Harbour
Bridge on the big screen - a must for opera-lovers.
There
was also the first meeting of Team Yum-Yum, the group of volunteers
who are putting together the MacmillanCoffee Morning at the theatre
on Friday 25 September. In addition to serving
coffee and home-made cakes to raise funds for the charity, there’ll
be back stage tours and the chance to sample our big screen
live streamings. So please join us for a cuppa.
Spotlight
club report
28th
August
It’s
been a week of welcomes at The Spotlight. Firstly, we’re
preparing to welcome back both our junior and youth companies
after their summer break. S.P.O.T.S (for 7-15 year olds) will
be resuming their Saturday morning sessions on 12 September
while Northern Lights Theatre (15 + years) will be returning
to their regular Wednesday evening meetings on 9 September.
We
also welcomed another capacity audience to our to our sparkling
summer special, It’s Yesterday Once More. The fun-filled
60s and 70s musical variety show continues its hugely successful
run throughout September.
And
next week we look forward to welcoming the National Theatre
to our big screen on Thurs 3 September for a live streaming
performance of The Beaux’ Stratagem – a rollicking
restoration romp. This is followed on Sat 5 September by a big
screen repeat showing of the Old Vic’s sensational production
of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. And on Sun 6 Sept we
welcome ReMarkable Theatre who are staging two matinee performances
of their musical showcase .
There’s
also a welcoming thought for the not-so mobile members of our
audience. In addition to our fully accessible disabled toilet
we have just completed fitting out the Men’s toilet cubicle
with hand rails and a higher pedestal loo. It’s all part
of our programme of continuing improvements at the theatre.
We
also hope to welcome lots of visitors to our
McMillan Coffee Morning on Friday 25 September.
Between 10am and 12 noon we’ll be serving up cuppas and
cakes to raise funds for the charity as well as giving tours
of the venue and showing off our big screen.
Spotlight
club report
22nd
August
This
week has whizzed by in a whirlwind of forward planning. Crew
from Nine Degrees East theatre company have been searching through
the wardrobe department in preparation for their co-production
with the Spotlight, Dracula, which runs in late October. Victorian
gothic is the style that’s been set and the hope is that
they’ll be able to find most of the outfits off-the-peg.
The audience at the final performance of the classic horror
story, on Halloween, is invited to come in costume too and there’ll
be prizes for the best dressed. So start scouring the charity
shops now.
Looking
ahead further still, Scrooge the Musical is being performed
by Bridlington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (BAODS)
in December, but rehearsals will start in less than a month.
This is an exciting departure for BAODS who have in recent years
put on a musical showcase with a festive theme. This full-scale
musical will be a definite challenge – especially as it
will run alongside our traditional panto. To get everyone in
the Christmas spirit early, on 7 September at 7.30pm there’ll
be an Open Evening and a screening of a version of Scrooge with
a ‘share supper’. Members old, new and those thinking
about joining, are invited to this. Casting and rehearsals will
begin shortly after this date. If you’d like to be involved
in any way, please come along and say Hello on the night.
Meanwhile,
back in the now, our summer special, It’s Yesterday Once
More, continues to wow audiences. Tuesday’s performance
was, once again, sold out. It’s a real crowd-pleaser of
a show – if you haven’t seen it yet, treat yourself
and indulge in a bit of nostalgia. And if you’re ever
near West Street on a Monday or Friday morning, please call
in and have a look around – we’d love to let you
know what’s on and what’s coming up.
Spotlight
club report
16th
August
We’ve
been coping with success and looking forward to the autumn this
week.
The
sixties continue to swing in our sparkling summer show, It’s
Yesterday Once More. We played to another full house on Tuesday
and sadly were turning holiday makers away on the door. Touching
base with a selection of the audience revealed folk visiting
from London and Leicester as well as other areas of Yorkshire.
The
techy team have been experimenting with the in-house kit and
looking at possibilities such as projecting images onto stage
flats to create a set – which could eventually mean the
end of the painted backdrop. We’re also considering a
series of workshops that train more members to understand the
equipment and how to operate it.
Waiting
in the wings is a very special event to commemorate the 75th
anniversary of the Battle of Britain. We’ll be showing
a live streaming performance of the BBC Radio 2 concert from
Biggin Hill.
This
will tell the epic story of the greatest aerial conflict of
the Second World War. Radio 2 presenters, including Jeremy Vine
and Dermot O’Leary, will be joined by the BBC Concert
Orchestra on Friday 18 September to mark the occasion. In addition
to music from the era, rare archive film footage , modern day
RAF personnel, guest singers and a cast of actors will bring
the story to life as we remember the men and women who took
part in the struggle 75 years ago. Radio 2's D-Day commemorative
concert in June 2014 - Friday Night Is Music Night at the Royal
Albert Hall - recently won seven Golds and the Grand Award for
Best Special Event at the New York Festivals World's Best Radio
Programs 2015. So this promises to be something truly memorable.
Spotlight
club report
7th
August
This
has been a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of week particularly
for the trustees.
A
problem with the fabric on the new auditorium seating has been
partly resolved. The seats have been replaced and now have a
¾ rather than a full tilt to help reduce wear and tear
on the edges. The backs too will be replaced soon. Blocked guttering
at the rear of the building has been cleaned and repaired in
places. The marching tunes from a bag-pipe playing neighbour
helped the volunteers get the job done in double-quick time!
Security
as well as health and safety issues have been addressed. The
CCTV system is now fully operational and personal alarms, with
automated alerts, have been introduced for lone workers. Seven
volunteers also undertook a one-day emergency first aid course.
Performance-wise,
the summer show, It's Yesterday Once More, continues to delight
audiences. After the positive response to the comedy elements,
the director has introduced an additional sketch from everyone's
favourites, The Two Ronnies, which should go down a treat.
The
co-production between Nine Degrees East and the Spotlight, Dracula,
is now cast and rehearsals will shortly begin. This is an exciting
new version which will utilise some of our new technology to
create a truly spine-tingling atmosphere.
And it's only a couple of weeks until the next broadcast from
The Royal Shakespeare Company, Othello, hits our big screen.
So there's plenty to keep volunteers busy and audiences entertained.
Celebrating
their 60th wedding anniversary at The Spotlight
5th
August
It’s
only taken George and Ada Kent around 50 years to visit
The Spotlight Theatre on West Street.They made their first
visit to the volunteer run venue on the opening night
of the summer show, It’s Yesterday Once More, on
30 July - which also happened to be their Diamond Wedding
Anniversary.
But
the couple have been coming to Bridlington from their
home in Dronfield, Derbyshire since the early days of
their marriage in the mid 50s and have stayed in many
different flats, guest houses and hotels in the town.
One of their favourite things to do in the resort was
taking a trip on the ‘Flamborian’ pleasure
cruiser. They also brought their two daughters on holiday
here. "Brid is lovely.
And now they’re doing it up, it’s going to
be better still’, enthused George.
84
year old George met Ada on a works coach outing to Belle Vue
Zoo in Manchester and they were married in 1955 at Chesterfield
Registry office. After the ceremony, they went to see the Irish
tenor, Josef Locke at the Sheffield Empire before spending their
wedding night in their new bungalow. So what finally brought
them to the Spotlight?
‘We
saw it advertised in our hotel and we thought we’d do
something different and have a night at the theatre. We knew
the music mentioned on the poster and we thought it would bring
back happy memories’.
And
the 60s and 70s inspired show, performed by Bridlington Amateur
Operatic and Dramatic Society (BAODS) certainly lived up to
their expectations. Ada said:
‘It was top notch – they’re every bit as good
as professionals. And the way they did the songs made you want
to join in and sing along’.
To
make the evening even more perfect, Ada won a bottle of wine
in the famous Spotlight raffle. ‘We’ll
definitely be coming back. Everyone was so friendly and the
show was wonderful. We’ve had a marvellous evening’.
Bob
Downing, one of the founding members of the Spotlight, said:‘It
was only by chance we found out about George and Ada’s
big day. We managed to get a card from a late-night shop and
offered them a celebratory drink. There aren’t many couples
who make it to 60 glorious years. We hope to see them again
on their 61st anniversary’.
The
Spotlight club report
3rd August
It’s
been all systems go this week at The Spotlight. The dress
rehearsal of It’s Yesterday Once More, the Bridlington
Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s (BAODS)
summer special, impressed a specially invited audience.
With just a few tweaks, the 60s and 70s inspired show
looked in great shape for its opening on the following
night. And the first performance played to a sold-out
house, amongst which were members of the Bridlington Tourism
Association (BTA). The mix of singing, dancing and classic
comedy sketches proved to be a winning formula - there
was unanimous agreement that this would be something local
accommodation providers would recommend to their guests.
It’s Yesterday Once More continues its run, playing
every Tuesday until the end of September.
The
casting call for performers wishing to take part in an
autumn production of Dracula brought a great response
from actors of all ages. Those attending were involved
in a read-through of the text, taking turns in different
roles, to give the director a chance to assess their abilities
before making his decision on who will take what part
in the coming weeks. This co-production between 9 Degrees
East theatre company and The Spotlight will be staged
in late October with the final performance taking place,
appropriately, on Halloween.
The
very brave like-it-or-get-your-money-back screening of
London Road finally took place. There was a good turn-out
for this unique film which uses the words of real people
to tell the story of how a community came together in
the wake of a series of terrible murders. If it sounds
horrific, it wasn’t. This film of a much-praised
National Theatre play was an uplifting piece. And while
the themes and approach were at times challenging, significantly
no-one asked for a refund.
Town’s
hoteliers enjoy a night out at The Spotlight
1st August
30
members of the Bridlington Tourism Association (BTA) joined
a sell-out audience for the first night of the Spotlight’s
summer special, It’s Yesterday Once More, on 30
July.
The
members, all holiday accommodation providers, enjoyed
a drink in the bar before watching the first night performance
which one BTA member rated ‘20 out of 10’.
Sylvia
Wright, Secretary of the BTA, and proprietor of Lincoln
House on Wellington Road, said "
the show was a fantastic addition to the town’s
summer season:There’s no doubt that visitors to
the resort will love It’s Yesterday Once More as
much as we did’.
Performed
by the Bridlington Amateur Operatice and Dramatic Society (BAODS),
the show turns back the clock to the mid 60s and 70s and showcases
classic hits from the big names of the era – the Beatles
through to Abba.‘It really
took us back to when we were young’, added Sylvia. ‘There’s
singing, dancing and very funny comedy sketches that will appeal
to a wide audience. It’s real seaside variety entertainment’.
For
many BTA members this was also a first chance to see the recently
refurbished auditorium at the volunteer-run theatre and to have
a drink in the new extension which houses the bar
Mike
Sheldon, chairman of The Spotlight, said:‘The
BTA play an important role in letting visitors to Bridlington
know about what’s happening in the town. We’re delighted
they enjoyed the performance and hope they’ll be great
ambassadors for the show. With our show running on Tuesdays
and the Spa’s summer spectacular on Wednesdays and Thursdays,
the BTA’s guests will be able to enjoy two fantastic nights
at the theatre during their stay’.
Happiness
is…watching It’s Yesterday Once More
30th July
If
you’ve had a bad day at work or the dog’s
chewed the sofa or the washing machine is on the blink,
this is the show for you. Because from the minute the
curtain rises, you’ll be surfing on a wave of joy
watching Bridlington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s
(BAODS) summer special.
There’s
something for everyone to enjoy in this 60s and 70s inspired
production – singing, dancing and comedy sketches.
And while it’s performed by non-professionals, the
cast is both able as well as enthusiastic and determined
to give the audience a good time.
The
ensemble pieces fairly fizzle and when the entire cast gets
behind favourites such as Petula Clark’s Downtown or Blue
Mink’s Banner Man, complete with a marching big bass drummer,
you have to bite your tongue not to join in.
In
between the big numbers, a stream of solo spots takes you through
a juke-box of hits – Ob la de, Ob la da, Those Were The
Days, even the gritty Wandrin’ Star gets its turn centre
stage, much to the audience’s delight.
The
comic interludes are just as good. Covering the whole gamut
of classic British humour , from Tommy Cooper’s one-liners
to the best of Morecambe and Wise and into the surreal world
of Monty Python, there are genuinely funny laugh-out-loud moments.
For
those of a certain age, the music will bring back memories of
mini skirts or sequined jump-suits. But younger folk won’t
feel bemused – you’d have to have been wearing ear
plugs an entire lifetime not to recognise the music on this
playlist.
Regardless
of age, you’re sure to leave the theatre smiling. For
anyone suffering from the summertime blues, It’s Yesterday
Once More is the perfect antidote.
The
Spotlight club report
26th
July
Groovy
is our word of the week as the Bridlington Amatuer Operatic
and Dramatic Society (BAODS) builds up towards the opening
of their 60s/70s inspired summer special, ‘It’s
Yesterday Once More’. While the cast have been tripping
the light fantastic on the stage, the technical crew has
been working with an LED lighting rig to create some positively
psychedelic effects. A white silk Austrian drape theatre
cloth has been bought as a backdrop for the show and coloured
lights are also being projected onto this. Rumour has
it that the boys in the upstairs booth are putting Blackpool
Illuminations in the shade.
The
Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘Merchant of Venice’
was broadcast live from Stratford-upon-Avon and it was
every bit as good as we’d hoped. With a shining
golden set that reflected the action, it turned the tables
on one of the play’s most famous lines – ‘All
that glisters isn’t gold’ – as this
was definitely a 24 carat production. It tackled the themes
of racism, forgiveness, revenge and love, bravely and
boldy. Othello is the next RSC offering and it’s
coming in August.
Sadly,
the much-anticipated ‘London Road’ didn’t
make it to our big screen. A technical glitch on the night
forced this performance to be rescheduled for next Saturday
(1 Aug). The plus side of this is that those who couldn’t
make it on the 25th now have a second chance to see this
uplifting film based on the award-winning National Theatre
production.
The
exciting co-production between the Spotlight and Nine
Degrees East theatre company gets underway this week with
auditions for ‘Dracula’ taking place on Fri
31 July at 7.30 at the Spotlight. Anyone wishing to try
out should be at the theatre for 7.30pm and everyone is
welcome
Dazzle
cast toasts success at The Spotlight
20th
July
It
was lemonade all-round on Saturday 18 July as the youngsters
of the Spotlight’s junior company, S.P.O.T.S, celebrated
a successful run of their debut show, Dazzle.
With
a fabulous array of cup-cakes and other goodies to hand,
the cast also watched a DVD of their show on the theatre’s
big screen – so they all got to see themselves performing
on stage.
Sophie
Brown, the show’s director, said the musical had
received praise all-round:‘The audience enjoyed
every minute, they laughed in all the right places and
the applause was tremendous. The National Operatic and
Dramatic Association (NODA) also reviewed the show and
were hugely complimentary. So we definitely had something
to celebrate’.
The
cast of 26, aged between seven and 15, made the most of their
time-off as next time they meet it will be business as usual
as they get back into their weekly routine. Each Saturday morning,
the children receive coaching in all aspects of stagecraft –
acting, singing and movement. But the training develops more
than just theatrical talent; it gives children confidence and
helps build life skills such as communication and co-operation.
Roberta
(Bobby) Watts, age seven from Carnaby, is in her second year
with the company and played the role of Mary Goround, one of
the main characters, in Dazzle. She would encourage everyone
to come along and join in: ‘Being part of S.P.O.T.S is
brilliant. And if you want to act in your school play it’s
good for that. Everyone in the group is really friendly and
we have a fun time together’.
Due
to demand for places, changes are being made to the group to
allow more children to get involved. In future, there will be
two age groups – 7-ll years and 12-15 years. Auditions
will be held in September and youngsters of all abilities are
invited to take part. ‘The two essential qualities we’ll
be looking for are enthusiasm and commitment’, explained
Sophie.
S.P.O.T.S
is supported by the Spotlight Theatre which means the Saturday
morning sessions are free to attend. Anyone interested in joining
should contact Sophie on 07935 988771. Regular updates also
appear on the theatre’s Facebook page.
The
Spotlight club report
19th
July
There’s
been a celebratory mood at The Spotlight this week. Saturday
saw the junior company, S.P.O.T.S, enjoy a post-show party
after their successful run of Dazzle. Over two weekends
and four performances the youngsters wow-ed audiences
with their dynamic performances of this magical musical.
Lemonade toasts and cake all-round were the order of the
day.
The
back-stage crew have also giving themselves a well-deserved
pat on the back. They’ve now cleared all the staging
material for both Grease and Dazzle and have got everything
in place ready for ‘It’s Yesterday Once More’,
the Bridlington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic’s
Society’s (BAODS) summer special. The company itself
is delighted with how rehearsals are progressing and is
looking forward to a great first night on 31 July.
Meanwhile
those who saw the live screening of Everyman from the
National Theatre on London’s Southbank were congratulating
themselves on getting a ticket. This was a vibrant update
of a 15th century morality play – which might not
sound like everyone’s cup of Darjeeling but given
the fact it was re-written by the Poet Laureate, Carol
Ann Duffy, and starred Chiwetel Ejiofor of 12 Years a
Slave fame, there was a feeling it would be something
special – and it absolutely was. With God depicted
as a char-woman and Death as a chilling serial killer,
this was riveting stuff with a climactic moment that made
the entire audience jump with surprise. Clever, witty
and visually stunning it was a joy to be able to see it
in Bridlington.
Finally,
there was a definite fiesta feeling at the screening of
Andre Rieu’s 2015 Maastrict concert. With Andre
fans packing out two screenings, this incredible entertainer
treated his audience of thousands, possibly millions,
to an orchestral extravaganza featuring works from the
greats of the classical music world. It was quite a show.
The
Spotlight club report
12th
July
In
the week that saw Spitfires once again in our skies to
commemorate the start of the Battle of Britain 75 years
ago, the Spotlight signed up for the BBC’s live
broadcast from Biggin Hill in September to mark the end
of the conflict. This unique event will be screened in
September and is sure to be something to book in advance.
In
another bold move, the theatre has also agreed to take
broadcasts from The Metropolitan Opera in New York. This
is sure to please opera lovers who have been treated to
some incredible performances recently – this trend
is sure to continue with The Met now on board.
Yet
another exciting addition to the Spotlight’s ever-expanding
schedule is a new version of Dracula that will be performed,
appropriately, on Halloween. This is the first co-production
between the Spotlight and local drama company, 9 Degrees
East. The show is being cast at the end of the month and
auditions take place at the theatre on 31 July.
Amateur
productions are still at the heart of the Spotlight’s
ambitions. The end of July heralds curtain up on the Bridlington
Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s (BAODS)
annual seaside special, Yesterday Once More. The show
is built around favourite songs from the era of the mid-sixties
to the mid-seventies mixed with some comedy sketches.
It’s certain to bring back memories and raise a
smile too. The team feels sure it will add to the town’s
summer line-up and it’s hoped it will prove as popular
with visitors as it will be with locals. Full dress rehearsals
start soon and the first night is 30 July.
Everyman,
the latest offering from National Theatre Live, will be
broadcast on Thurs 16 July. This vibrant new take on a
morality play has been wow-ing audiences in London –
and this week, Bridlington and the rest of the world get
their chance to be impressed. Tickets will be available
on the door.
The
Spotlight club report
5th
July
In possibly the hottest week of the year so far, there’s
been a definite hint of Christmas in the air. Bridlington
Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s (BAODS)
Xmas show will be Scrooge. The performing rights have
been secured and casting will begin in early autumn. This
is definitely one that will test the team – the
eponymous lead will be following in the footsteps of the
likes Tommy Steele and Shane Ritchie. Expectations are
high.
Dazzle,
the junior company’s show, has been well, dazzling
audiences. This tale of a group of kids coming together
and fighting to save a fairground has a host of great
songs with wonderful lyrics. The youngsters’ dynamic
production, with a stunning painted set by Rob Ketteringham,
is a must-see for musical fans – catch it if you
can this weekend (Sat 10 and Sun 11 July). You won’t
be disappointed.
Controversy
came to the Spotlight in the form of the Royal Opera House’s
performance of Rossini’s William Tell. Opening night
had seen opera lovers at Covent Garden booing the production
which has been updated and set during the Balkan War.
The inclusion of extreme violence in certain scenes had
London audiences in uproar. Forewarned, the Spotlight
audience wasn’t quite so easily shocked and was
able to just enjoy Rossini’s wonderful music.
The
next live broadcast is Everyman from the National Theatre.
This startling new production is a modern take on a medieval
play, written by the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and
starring the Oscar-nominated, 12 Years a Slave star, Chiwetel
Ejiofor. It’s a bold and breathtaking production
that’s received four star reviews across the board.
One to watch on Thursday 16 July.
"London
Road" Money-back guarantee from The Spotlight Theatre
On
25 July, the much talked about film of the successful
National Theatre production of ‘London Road’,
hits the big screen in West Street, Bridlington and the
Spotlight team is offering anyone who buys a ticket to
see it a full refund if they don’t enjoy it.
The
star-studded cast includes Olivia Coleman (ITV’s
Broadchurch), Anita Dobson (Eastenders) and Tom Hardy
(BBC’s Peaky Blinders) and the film itself has received
rave reviews from audiences and critics alike
But
it is a challenging piece as Bob Downing, one of the founding
members of the volunteer-run venue, explained:
‘While
our audience has embraced our live screening productions, this
film takes quite a unique approach. The story has been developed
using a technique called ‘verbatim theatre’. The
author, Alecky Blythe, recorded the testimony of the ordinary
people who lived on the street and then worked with actors to
reproduce exactly not only their words but also their accent
and intonation
The
result is a bold and imaginative drama-documentary style of
theatre set to music. It’s definitely a bit of a risk
for us, but we thought Bridlington deserved the chance to see
it’.
The
storyline revolves around a real-life incident – the murder
of five prostitutes in a house on a suburban street. The play
follows how the residents react and respond to the terrible
event. Despite the subject matter, the film has been described
as ‘uplifiting’ and ‘life-affirming.
There’s
no doubt that ‘London Road’ will push our audience
outside their comfort zone. So we’re hoping the offer
will encourage them to give-it-a-go and try something a bit
different. Having spoken with people who’ve already seen
it in Hull, I don’t think they’ll be disappointed.
But if they are, they can claim their money back. At the end
of the performance I’ll be standing at the door with my
wallet at the ready, just in case’.
The
good, the bad and the budgie
22nd
April
The
laughs came thick and fast in Reform Theatre Company’s
latest comedy Thick as Thieves – the tale of a bungled
burglary that goes very, very wrong for two small-time
criminals.
There
were some great one-liners - like one of the light-fingered
pair insisting that he had pets as a child and his accomplice
telling him that ‘headlice don’t count’.
And there were plenty of visual chuckles too - not least
of which was one bad lad weeing in a teapot to revenge
a cruelly treated budgerigar.
But,
as we all know, crime doesn’t pay. So while the
burglars didn’t find anything of any value when
they broke into No 17 Forester Road, they did find something
they didn’t expect. The grizzly discovery set off
a chain of events that could only end in tears.
Along
the way, we got an insight into the lives of the two childhood
friends who had gone off the rails; one who longs for respect
and recognition from his peers, the other who just wants to
be able to support his partner and two kids. It was at times
genuinely touching but the giggles were never far away –
as when one robber offered the other a hug after he’d
related how his absent Dad failed to recognise him the street.
The reaction of horror to the possibility of embracing his mate
was joyful slapstick.
The
two man cast was excellent in a fast and punchy production that
raced along never missing a beat. And it’s a sign of a
job well done if on the way out the audience is still smiling.
This audience was positively grinning from ear to ear
Words
of wisdom from Ashley Jackson
19th
April
For
anyone who wasn’t fortunate enough to get to our
sell-out event with the renowned Yorkshire landscape artist
Ashley Jackson, he proved to be as good a telling a tale
as he is at painting the moors. Here are a few of his
most memorable quotes from an evening packed with art,
anecdotes and laughter.
On
Tracy Emin’s famous bed installation:
When a reporter noticed him queuing to get into the exhibition
to see the unmade bed and asked him what he was doing
there, he replied: ‘Rumour has it she’s put
the names of her lovers on the bed head – I’ve
come to see if mine’s there’.
On
what he does: ................
'I read Mother Nature’s love letters and I translate them
into paintings’
On
conceptual art..'When
asked what it was on a radio 4 programme he likened it to going
to an Ann Summers .shop, and having
a selection of 'toys' delivered to your loved one before calling
them and saying, ’Darling, I’m on my way, .but
.if
my train’s late, start without me’.
On
painting trees:... There are three kinds –
the umbrella shape, the tear drop shape and the upturned bucket
shape’.
On
fame: ....'In America he was asked if he knew
Prince Charles he replied: ‘Aye lad but more to the point,
he knows me’.
On
breaking the ice: ......'He
once hired a nude model to paint a life study – she asked
where she should put her clothes . .......................................He
replied, ‘In the corner over there on top of mine, love’.
On
speaking his mind:
......... ‘I can say all
this because I don’t get a grant from the Arts Council’.
On
being remembered
.‘There’s
no statue of the artist Turner in the UK but there’s one
of Dickie Bird – that’s how .life
is’.
A
View from The Spotlight
27th
March
26
March proved to be a night to remember. The first link-up
with the National Theatre Live programme brought world-class
theatre on a grand scale to Bridlington.
At
7pm, The Young Vic’s much lauded production of ‘A
View from the Bridge’ was broadcast live from the
Wyndham Theatre in the West End to our little theatre
on West Street. And it was an experience that won’t
quickly be forgotten.
Now
just about every complimentary adjective in the Oxford
English dictionary has been used to describe director
Ivo Van Hove’s take on the Arthur Miller classic.
Mesmerising,
mind blowing, stunning, stupendous, thrilling… the list
goes on. And to cap it all, it now has seven Olivier Awards
nominations under its belt. So we didn’t think we were
going to be disappointed, but did it live up to the hype?
And
some, is the answer.
From
the moment the curtain went up, the Spotlight audience was enthralled.
There was no coughing, no foot shuffling, no rustling of sweet
wrappers. If I didn’t know it was medically impossible,
I’d say that the entire audience held its breath from
beginning to end.
Two
hours passed in what seemed like two minutes as the tension
racked up towards the inevitable and unforgettable climax. And
in that time, there wasn’t a moment that didn’t
grip with the ferocity of a Staffy’s jaws, from the opening
sensual shower scene to the final shattering bloodbath.
I
don’t want to give away any spoilers as there’s
every chance the popularity of this show will mean there’ll
be an ‘Encore’ performance later in the year. But
if you want to read more about it follow this
link.
Meanwhile,
those of us who were fortunate enough to see the production
live on the first night of The Spotlight’s new venture
will be able to say, I was there..........................
[All photos on News/Reviews pages courtesy of Maria Prchlik]
Live
Screening - Making it happen.
25th
March
For
a little theatre, signing up to NT Live was a huge leap
of faith - as well as a massive undertaking for all the
volunteers involved. From Pauline who kept the tea coming
to the near legendary Two Robs who sorted the installation
of the new equipment, it was a real team effort.
A
screen wasn't the only bit of new equipment needed. Up
on the roof, Tim, watched by those not afraid of heights,
fitted a satellite receiver that would allow the theatre
to receive the broadcasts.
We've
had some wonderful donations recently,for which we're
very grateful. One of them allowed us to buy a a TV for
the bar area that we can use to display a 'What's On'
slideshow. Or take a peek at what's happening on the stage!
The
new 14' x 8' giant screen, needed to project the high
quality images, was delivered to the booking office -
a ten minute walk from the theatre. But 20 minutes if
you have to carry a very heavy load!
By
the time we arrived at West Street, we'd gathered a few
more strong arms.
Negotiating such an awkward package through the inside
doors was a tricky business - made more so by the fact
that a steel ladder had been attached to it in order for
the transport team to have something to hold on to!
The
heart of the new set up is a state of the art projection
unit. The Two Robs, assisted by John, worked night and
day to get it ready to roll as the countdown to the broadcast
started. The sound system was equally important - and
during testing, Annie Lennox sounded amazing (Only on
CD...but with our new ambitions, who knows!)
Not
everyone was around when we cut the 'We Did It' cake (sorry).
We felt it was important on the-morning-after-the-night-before
to give ourselves a tiny pat on the back - and it was
all the more appreciated with a piece of carrot cake in
it! Thank you to everyone who made NT Live a reality -
you did an amazing job.
National
Theatre Live screenings come to Bridlington
1st
March
The
big ambitions of a small local venue have brought world-class
live theatre to the town as the Spotlight Theatre on West
Street has invested thousands of pounds in new equipment
to enable it to receive and transmit live satellite screenings
of plays and musicals from London theatres.
National
Theatre Live began in 2009 and its productions have been
seen by 3.5 million people in 1,000 venues around the
world.
Past
productions include Frankenstein with Benedict Cumbernatch
and Jonny Lee Miller, The Audience with Helen Mirren,
A Street Car Named Desire with Gillian Anderson and Skylight
with Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan.
Mike
Sheldon, Chairman of The Spotlight said:‘Becoming part
of the National Theatre Live phenomenon is a really big deal.
It means people in the town have direct access to the very best
of British theatre right on their doorstep. It’s been
a massive commitment on our part so we’re hoping that
theatre-lovers will help us make the screenings a huge success’.
The
first live screening at The Spotlight takes place on March 26
at 7pm and is the five star rated Young Vic production of Arthur
Miller’s A View from A Bridge. Starring Mark Strong, The
Daily Telegraph reviewer called it, ‘One of the most powerful
Miller productions I have ever seen’.
The
Spotlight’s new equipment will ensure high the audience
experience’s excellent visual and sound reproduction and
includes a special lens, new satellite receiver and a 14’
high definition screen.
He
added:‘We have 83 seats in the auditorium and these exciting
one-night live screenings are regularly sold-out in other venues.
So to be sure to book early if you want to be part of the global
audience’,
Tickets
for the Spotlight’s first NT Live event are available
from Bridlington Blinds and Curtains at the top of Bridge Street
and cost £16.
"Peter
Pan"
15th
February
Peter
Pan set in a supermarket? Well, it could have gone either
way – brilliantly or badly.
Fortunately
for the audience it was the former. In fact, locating
this much-loved tale of the boy who didn’t want
to grow up in a shopping environment proved to be a stroke
of genius.
For
a start, calling the store Priceland meant that its name
was just a syllable away from Neverland. The retail setting
also provided a handy supply of props - a shopping trolley
that stood in for an island, French baguettes that served
as swords, a roasted peanut that took the place of a kiss
– it was endlessly inventive.
But
this wasn’t just a clever show, it also had heart. The
story began with a lost little girl being entertained by supermarket
staff giving an impromptu rendition of the JM Barrie classic
while waiting for her parents to collect her. So Pete, working
his last shift before leaving for the bright lights of London,
takes on the role of Peter; the girl who loves him but who isn’t
loved back becomes Wendy, the store manager, Tinkerbell and
a cocky sales assistant transforms into Captain Hook with his
junior colleague playing not just one but three pirates.
There
was music too – songs that were Disney-esque if not quite
Disney standard and which worked well within the story line.
And although there were genuinely touching moments as unrequited
love remained that way or, elsewhere, love blossomed there were
also a treasure trove of laughs. The double act of Hook and
his first mate, Smee created some genuinely funny moments -
not the least of which was the revealing of the Captain’s
‘Muppet’ underpants.
As
Saturday night entertainment goes, this show’s feel good
factor beats the X Factor hands down.
Stories
and pictures at Spotlight with acclaimed artist, Ashley Jackson.
30th
January
Something
a little different comes to the stage of the Spotlight
this April.
Popular
Holmfirth based artist Ashley Jackson, one of the country’s
best-loved water colourists, will be stopping of at the
theatre on West Street, Bridlington to discuss his life
and demonstrate his painting techniques as he creates
one of his atmospheric landscapes during the show.
Well-known
for his brooding skies and dramatic Yorkshire moorlands,
Ashley’s art hangs on some of the most famous walls
in the world in the homes of the rich and famous. Actors,
politicians, even Princes are amongst his biggest fans.
As
entertaining as he is talented, as viewers of his TV series
‘A Brush with Ashley’ will recall, the evening promises
to be one to remember. The 90 minute show will be filled with
humorous anecdotes and possibly some celebrity secrets –
as well as a painting demonstration. There will also be an opportunity
to ask Ashley questions at the end of the show.
An
honorary Yorkshire man, Ashley came to the country as a nine
year old boy, swapping Penang in Malaysia for Barnsley in South
Yorkshire. He immediately fell in love with God’s own
county and has been loyal to it ever since making it the centrepiece
of much of his work. He is often quoted as saying he wishes
to do with the brush what those other great Yorkshire icons,
the Brontes, did with the pen.
Mike
Sheldon, Chairman of Spotlight, believes that the show has something
for everyone:
‘Even
if you’ve never picked up a paint brush in your life,
this evening of anecdotes and art will bring a smile to your
face - Ashley is as good a raconteur as he is an artist. And
who knows, after spending a couple of hours in his company,
you might be inspired to try your hand at capturing the beauty
of our wonderful coastline or wolds on canvas for yourself’.
A
cracker of a christmas at Spotlight
14th
January
Taking
down Christmas decorations is usually a bit of a sad time,
But at Spotlight Theatre it was a cause for celebration
as the company reflected on a bumper festive season.
Members
of the cast and committee of the Bridlington Amateur Operatic
and Drama Society (BAODS) gathered after the final performance
of ‘Cinderella’ to put away the tinsel, baubles
and the tree and congratulate themselves on a job well
done.
With
most of the 11 performances of Cinders playing to capacity
audiences and Mums, Dads, kids, Grans and Grandads really
getting into the spirit of panto, director Pauline Pope
was delighted with the enthusiastic response: ‘The
reaction was amazing. The traditional audience participation
bits almost blew us off the stage. Nearly 90 people shouting
‘He’s behind you’ really raised the
roof. One night we had in 16 members of St Oswald’s
choir, Flamborough. and they sang almost as loudly as
those on the stage’.
‘And
knowing that people have enjoyed the show makes all the
hard work worthwhile. BAODS is an amateur company and
the theatre is run by a dedicated group of volunteers
who all put in many hours of hard work to get a production
up and running’.
December
also saw a great turn-out for professional touring company,
Badapple Theatre, who stopped off with their production
of the Mice who Ate Christmas – a whisker-tickling
tale of two hungry mice who almost spoilt Christmas Eve
for an entire village, while BAODS were in action with
"Wartime Upstairs Downstairs’ [see review below]
Audiences
for all shows were better than last year and the company
hopes this trend will continue throughout the Spring season
with more people switching off the tv and enjoying The
Spotlight’s eclectic mix of live drama and music
– as well as its brand new bar and events space.
Bob
Downing, long-serving founder member, wants more local
people to support Brid’s favourite little venue:‘
Spotlight has been in its current home for 13 years. If
you’ve never been, now’s a great time to come
along and see a show. Our programme just gets better and
better and our recent improvements to the auditorium and
the bar make for great night out’.