Introducing Robert Meadows 2002/3 Adjudicator
From
Robert Meadows
My
first kindling of interest in the theatre must have been at the age of about
eight: visiting back stage at the Ramsgate Pavilion and being kissed by
half-clad Veronica Price, leading songstress of ‘The Eddie Payne Show’, a
semi-professional sixties ‘end of the pier’ show. She must have smudged a
fair dollop of grease paint on my cheeks because I’ve been actively involved
with the theatre – one way or other – for many years. As a writer, I’ve
been lucky enough to have plays performed by a number of professional and
amateur groups, both at home and abroad. As a teacher and workshop leader,
I’ve had the privilege of introducing young people to many aspects of the
performing arts. As an amateur actor and director, I have had the opportunity of
working on a variety of stimulating plays and exciting projects. As an active
member of my local drama group in Moulton, I’ve had the good fortune of being
able to pursue my interests in the company of like-minded enthusiasts. As a play
‘goer’, I’ve had over thirty years’ experience of watching and.
latterly, examining, theatre work. So why the interest? What’s in it for us?
Textbooks on ‘Theatre’ often begin by translating
the word to mean ‘to see’. I don’t know if this definition is literally
true but it helps me to understand the interest. We do see or discover new
things about ourselves through our involvement with theatre. A play might
encourage us to see the world in a different light. Our perceptions are
frequently challenged and changed. We realise new capacity for a gamut of
emotions. We see and respond to the visions of others: directors, designers and
actors. And although what is created in the theatre is like something written in
melting snow, we carry away memories of the experience which remain developed on
the inner eye. Theatre can have that importance for people.
I suppose I’ve gained the most pleasure from
community plays. As some of you may know, I was recently asked to write a drama
set at Marbury Park. The play was based upon research and interviews with people
who had memories of living at Marbury Hall and Camp. The most rewarding moment
for me in that whole process was when one member of the audience said, at the
end of the show, ‘this brought it all back. It made the past come alive
again’. And that wasn’t a
comment about the writing; it was a remark about the theatrical process that
involves so many people with different and talents working collaboratively to
create a production. We all know what that feels like. I suspect it’s what we
enjoy most about putting on plays.
And, as we all know, it can also be a lot of
fun. Why else should so many of us devote our leisure time to it? So it will be
with an intention to enjoy myself that I embark upon the many visits I’ll make
during the course of the next twelve months. I’m looking forward to an
exciting theatrical year. Who knows? Maybe Veronica Price is still out there
treading the boards and singing her heart out, waiting to plant another kiss
upon a captivated audience.
Robert Meadows
Please get your adjudication requests in early. Many groups find it more convienient to book and pay for the entire season now - don’t worry if you have yet to finalise a choice of play. If you have to cancel a play your money will be refunded.
Form Filling
Sorry but we do need t keep our records up to date so please help by completing the affiliation and handbook website forms in full particularly the write up about your group. This is your space to “sell Yourself” and interest other groups in coming to see one of your plays - why not include a few directions to make it easier for people to find you?
The adjudication and handbook forms are now available on the website in both acrobat and HTML for you to download and fill in.
The Good News
Affiliation and adjudication fees remain unchanged YET AGAIN!! If only other overheads such as royalties - play scripts - insurance had stayed the same.
Photographs
The AGM photographs are on the web site now. If you want copies you can freely download the photographs from the Cheshire Theatre Guild Website. For the uninitiated click on the small (thumbnail) photo to obtain a full size copy to download.
Thank You
To those groups who have advised us of a change of officers as a result of AGM’s. Perhaps my grumbles at our AGM did the trick!
It was only a few days after this AGM that I discovered – purely by chance that mailings to one of our groups had been sent to a person who was no longer secretary and as they were not represented I can only guess that they had not been passed on to the new secretary.– Come to think about it I don’t even know the name of the new secretary! What a way to run a drama group.
AGM / Awards Press Coverage
The Winsford / Northwich Chronicle and Guardian newspapers did us proud with write ups and photographs - mainly concentrating on Harlequins and Moulton, the papers circulation areas. Did you get some welcome publicity in your local paper?
Amateur Stage also gave us good coverage on page 15 of the August issue and we were even listed in the index of the months contents! Perhaps it was because in a PS to my letter to “Amateur Stage” I made some complimentary and well deserved comments about a Charles Vance production of The Lavender Hill Mob, that had visited the Lyceum Crewe. A little flattery goes a long way! What I failed to comment on was the Charles Vance Summer Rep Season of 4 plays over 4 weeks - again at the Lyceum. I saw the first (“Taking Steps”) and was not impressed - our Treasurer Margaret Boschi saw more than the one and was not thrilled. Insider information is that a couple of the actors were dismissed during the season and I am not surprised. There are many actors in out Cheshire Theatre Guild Groups that could have acted them off the stage with no trouble.
Obtain That License!
You may have heard Garth mention that Sandbach Players had been refused a license for “An Inspector Calls” and very sadly the play - well into rehearsal had to be abandoned - hopefully temporarily.
This warning has been given before in our newsletter but I will repeat it. Don’t assume that because you have purchased a set of scripts from the publisher that this automatically means you can perform the play. My advice is get a license before you purchase scripts, once you have that license whatever happens you should find that this will be honored. Sale Nomads did just this for the same play and their production went ahead. Don’t be caught out!
Stockton Heath Methodist Dramatic Society on the Fringe
By the time you read this newsletter this enterprising group will have completed 6 performances of “Home” by Davis Storey at “Diverse Attractions”. This could well be the first time a Cheshire Theatre Guild group has performed in Edinburgh. (any information to the contrary would be appreciated).
Coming Soon
A approach has been made to a professional director from one of our local theatres to run a workshop for us. He is a very busy man and it is just a matter of finding a slot in his diary when he has a weekend free – more news as soon as possible but we are on the case!
The Stage Newspaper
We have recently received the following email from The Stage newspaper.
| To: Ian.Bowden Subject: The Stage Hello I work for The Stage newspaper. Every four weeks we run an amateurs page, with a 880-word feature which has something special to offer or something interesting to say. If you think your society fits this description then email me the details on vicky@thestage.co.uk or send details to Victoria Worsley, the Stage, 47 Bermondsey St, London, SE1 3XT. Please do not telephone. Thank you, Victoria Worsley |
Perhaps some of you could submit articles to them, if you do don’t forget to mention the Cheshire Theatre Guild. The more publicity the guild gets the more we are able to do for our members.
Just In
We have just receive these emails, which might be of interest.
Talkback Productions are looking for people to take part in a Ch4 pilot about
how to give a successful dinner party. We are looking either a larger than life
character (hence contacting AmDram groups!) who wants to learn how to really put
on a show, or someone who finds
the whole process an ordeal and wants to making it less stressful. Or perhaps a
host who provides a wonderful array of food, but has been known to bring
together a disastrous mix of people.
Our panel of experts will observe and fine-tune their dinner party skills, and
turn them into the perfect host. (And of course we will foot the food and wine
bill.)
If you, or anyone you know, might be interested please call Sally on 020 7861
8341. email: sally.hewitt@talkback.co.uk
Also attached is a copy of the email and poster from Enigma Mystery Events
And Finally
We all know that on May 11th “Cats” closed after a 21 year run. What I bet you didn’t know was :-
10,800 sponges were used to apply make up.
5,460 pairs of shoes were used.
54,600 batteries were used by the sound department.
32,432 light bulbs were changed in the auditorium.8,573 seats were replaced.
108,108 paper cups were used by the box office.
1,791,720 envelopes were used.
43,924 headache pills were taken.
628,992 throat pills were taken.
What I would like to know is . . . WHO WAS DOING ALL THE COUNTING?
Good luck and every success with all your 2002/2003 productions.
