As some of you already are aware at the end of March I hung up my tape measure (or whatever menswear shopowners do when they close the shop door for the last time) and retired from business after about 40 years in “the trade”. Yes I know I’m far too young to retire but I didn’t let that stop me and in the month since then I’ve discovered that when retired people say they don’t know how they found time to work they are right.

This means you are now able to contact me only on my home number 01606 833645. I am out quite a lot (keeping busy) so leave a message on the answerphone and I will get back to you a.s.a.p. DON’T FORGET TO ALTER YOUR HANDBOOK AND DELETE THE OTHER NUMBERS SHOWN.

Notice is hereby given that the AGM of Cheshire Theatre Guild will take place on Wednesday 10th July commencing at 7.30pm prompt at WINSFORD CIVIC HALL.

This is the formal notification as required by item 7 of our constitution - with that over we can now tell you a little about this year’s AGM / Awards.

Firstly, why WINSFORD CIVIC HALL? Well we did ask for offers of venues and none were forthcoming, except for ones where the seating capacity was too small. Your committee have realised for some time that this situation could arise and we also decided it was time to take a look at the AGM / Awards format and re-vitalise the evening. We considered other venues including other civic halls, a college, a hotel function suite, but WINSFORD CIVIC HALL was the clear winner. It is quite easy to find and has plenty of parking, two essential requirements. As mentioned in the last newsletter, seating will be at tables “cabaret style” - no more gulping down drinks in the bar - you will be able to bring them into the main hall for you to enjoy in a leisurely manner. Your committee will soon be meeting to fine tune ideas we have to complete our NEW LOOK AGM.

The response to our simple course questionnaire has been helpful but we need more replies - only about a third of groups have responded (a big “thank you” if you were one of those).

The Club Theatre in Altrincham is a quite suitable venue for courses on this scale; it is well equipped, easy to find, and - crucially - it has excellent bar facilities!

The course was intended to give an introduction to both lighting and sound, and did both admirably.

The Lighting section of the course covered the basics, as well as more complex aspects of lighting as well as the various types of lantern and the use of colour. It was presented well, and it remained interesting throughout; it started from the very basics of design, and despite this being, I’m sure, for many, old ground, Barry kept it interesting both with visual aids, demonstrations, and anecdotes.

The section also discussed the differences in equipment and facilities in different theatres, and Barry proved especially knowledgeable when answering questions from those on the course. As Barry himself admitted, it couldn’t hope to address the more complex aspects of lighting in the allotted time but, despite this, it covered a lot of ground.

The Sound section of the course, similarly, went from the basics of sound, to the various types of equipment, types of sound, sources of sound effect, and so on. It was detailed and knowledgeable and an excellent starter for anyone interested in sound; it did seem terribly complicated, though, and for an introductory course may have put more off than it attracted!

All in all, the course was great value, and provided a good grounding in both fields, with or without prior knowledge of each. It instilled the enthusiasm that is all so important in AmDram, and was certainly an enjoyable day. Well done to all involved!

Nick Lee (MADS)

Don't forget to get your entries in by the due date.  at this point in time only one society has sent in there play details although I have had promises of 6 other entries from 2 societies, that is from Club Theatre and Moulton drama, So! come on folks give them some competition,   As you already know this years festival will be hosted by Harlequin Players.  If you don't know where they are located contact Gerry Card who will send you a map.  Good Luck.

Gerry Card

Robert Meadows has written yet another play which is to be performed in Marbury Park as a community project and will involve Children from Comberbach School, Musicians from Northwich Folk Club, Wardens from the park and ACTORS the latter being in short supply at the moment and the director, Jessica Bockler, is appealing for more people to take part.  The play which covers the history of Marbury Hall and Park will take place at several venues around the park and will be performed during the first week of July.  So! if you would like to be involved, or if you can be pursuaded to take part contact Margaret Card on 01606 883128 or Jessica Bockler on 01925 211374 or   mobile 07740650411.

When Ben Wieland retired recently as secretary to Knutsford Little Theatre his farewell report consisted of 26 verses in which he surveyed and summed up the activities and situations of this group. Although some of the verses were for local consumption only, we felt that many have a universal relevance and interest to other groups, and the extracts below are reproduced courtesy of the author.

We potter on from year to year
Without progressing far, I fear
We give four play and every time
We contemplate a pantomime
Some say, ‘No Not again! It’s dead’
And some, ‘It’s butter on the bread’.

This year we’ve done the same again
But choice of plays has made it plain
That what we think will go down well
Can sometimes leave a nasty smell
Whilst what we thought might cause
A row Has hardly even raised a brow.

There’s those who advocate a bar
There’s those who say ‘stay as we are’
There’s those who say that we should seek
To run a social every week.
Whilst others equally emphatic
Say, ‘Let us stick to Art Dramatic’.

Some say we must reduce the sub
To get more people in the club
(In the nicest way, I mean, of course)
Whilst others say with equal force
‘Increase the sub we’re far too cheap
We’re losing cash as well as sleep.

Committee-wise we’ve suffered from
Some unexplained contretemps
But duties have been well maintained
And no relations have been strained.
We’ve had no rows or family feuds
Or similar vicissitudes.

There’s those who read and recommend
The plays we give. Long hours they spend
In choosing what is suitable
And what is irrefutable.
They cast a net that in the last
Analysis, they net a cast.

There are those who hold the door
And plan the service on the floor
Sale of programmes, sale of sweets
And those who when the phrase defeats
The memory, supply the cue
Renewing confidence anew.

And those who, let us not forget
Work hard beforehand on the set
And those who set the lights aglow
And those whom we shall never know
Who loan their curtains, lamps and chairs
And even carpets off the stairs.

And lastly, those who play the parts
Who work for mastery of the Arts
Masters of Art they are, but free
From academic semin’ry
Yet by degrees they graduate
To standards others emulate.

And back behind the stage, I mean
I’d like to see a grand Spring Clean
The furniture in tidy stack
And after use on stage - put back
And in the places where they dress
Some interest shown in tidiness.

I’d like to see more volunteers
For work that seldom draws the cheers
(It’s sad that we can only get
Two men to build a tricky set)
I’d like to see a great deal more
Togetherness - Esprit de Corps.

So my final ‘crie de coeuer’
Is ‘Always give yourselves a spur’
Ensure that there’s a target set
An aim, an object to be met
That way your latent energy
Will channel to prosperity.

Enclosed with this newsletter is a “flyer” for you to return for further details.

The play is “SAVING ARDLEY” and if you require a copy of the 6 page introduction and story please ask for a copy of the one Cheshire Theatre Guild has been sent.

The Play — has parts for 2 male and 4 female, a single set and is described by the author as a “drawing room” comedy.

As I mentioned in the March Newsletter there are NO ROYALTIES to pay to perform this play. Furthermore you would receive one copy of the script in a ring binder FREE OF CHARGE and I an told that you may photocopy this for the cast, lights, properties etc. This represents a substantial saving on your normal budget for a play. In return you will be asked to sell a “West End” quality souvenir programme as a donation to the World Wildlife Fund.

Amateur stage readers can find out more details

Some time ago the Cheshire Theatre Guild set up a register of actors and directors who were prepared to help out in an emergency by acting or directing for a member society who has a casting / director problem. This is not a casting service, more of a last resort. The custodian of the register is Jean Teggin our liason officer.

Over the past few years that the register has been in existence Jean and her predecessor Angie Orme have been able to save quite a few productions with a timely injections of missing cast members and directors. The problem is, we have no new people coming forward, so this AGM we shall have forms available for people to sign up. We also enclose a copy of the form with this newsletter, and finally the form is available from the internet at our website www.ctguild.org.uk where you can fill the form out online. Note the completed forms will not be held on our website but will be passed over a secure link to Jean. No outsider will be able to access the details.

Please consider entering yourself on the register, it could be your production that needs help in the future.

“With regard to technical staff, if I tell you that two people built the set, one person decorated it, the director prompted the production, a cast member collected all the props—then you might get an idea of how short of helpers we really are”

From ‘Prompt Corner’ the newsletter of Colne Dramatic Society. (copied from the G.M.D.F. newsletter)