This is the theme of our one day acting workshop on Sunday April 27th. The workshop will cover the actor’s role in creating character and establishing relationships. We will be in the very capable hands of Derek Slater M.A. A.D.B. and a booking form is enclosed.

First Aid Course

A date has still to be confirmed for Clayton Training Group to run this course. The venue will almost certainly be Harlequins Theatre Northwich – the day a Sunday – Numbers will be limited to 14 and the cost around £36 per person with an HSE certificate presented to each person who attends the course. Full details and booking details to follow.

The groups who came along on February 9^th enjoyed a good buffet lunch – more home made pizza next time Maureen please! They were able to help themselves to various bits and pieces of male neckwear suitable for period plays (or present day plays with men wearing formal wedding attire, and I can think of 3 of these with no trouble and there must be more).

They were able to see a demonstration by Mike North of a PC based lighting desk – flyer enclosed. To cap it all there was Jeff Brailsford’s splendid talk on “The Forgotten Kings of Comedy” and how the memories flooded back – particularly the more mature members of the audience!. Can I remind you that Jeff kindly offered (is that the correct word Jeff?) to repeat his talk on your own premises – possibly as part of a social evening. I’m Jeffs agent and I’m sure 10% was mentioned as my introduction fee – on the other hand I may have imagined that bit. Knowing Jeff as I do any fee he makes will be low and you might get away with a packet of chocolate biscuits as I did!

Sadly we have to announce the death of John Blackburn who some of you will know as both the Vice President of GMDF and the President of Tudor Players. Jack or Blackie as most people knew him was one of the founders of the Tudor Players and with Ron Arscott guided the early days of Tudors. Blackie was always available to give both practical help and advice to anyone who needed it. Our thoughts are with the Stella and his family, and the Tudor Players on their loss.

Looking for an advertising banner? This was what Sale Nomads needed for a production of “Babes in the Wood”, they contacted Adam Coath in Washway Road Sale M33 7AD, Telephone 0161 962 9777, Email manchestersouth@sign-a-rama.co.uk who produced in only 3 days a 12foot by 2foot banner complete with hanging eyelets.

The cost was £167.51 (including VAT) – costly – BUT an investment as the letters peel off making the banner re-useable and for big shows this could be money well spent. (Did you know that half of any money spent on advertising is money wasted! – the trouble is that even the advertising experts don’t really know which half is the waste and which is well spent!)

Please note that following the sad death of Stella Wilkinson the contact for Ashton Heyes Theatre Club is Gill Ridley telephone 01925 724417 or Mary Bool Telephone 01829 751840. Have you any items belonging to Ashton Heyes Theatre Club still to be returned? Please contact Gill or Mary. Ashton Heyes are also looking for guest directors and actors / actresses, please contact Gill if you are interested.

It is a sad fact that theatres are not as popular as they once were. I am a 26 years old and on one of the rare occasions when I have suggested a trip to the theatre, my friends have greeted me with somewhat quizzical looks and pitying smiles. There are many explainations as to why this is the case, such as people having less leisure time or less money. It is glaringly obvious to me however that the main reason theatre audiences are dwindling to such a worrying degree is that people are becoming mentally lazy.

This is indeed a mental rather than a physical apathy. People are no longer willing to watch something that will challenge their deep rooted and entrenched thought processes. What the average 21st century joe wants is to be cosseted. To be lulled gently into a cognitive vacuum by the flickering images of Eastenders or Blind Date. This phenomenon has been described as "Dumbing Down" by much of the press. Initially this lowest common denomination entertainment was a limited to brief, Saturday night forays into the banal, accompanied by the likes of Noel Edmonds or Jim Davidson. Now however it seems that programs that require interaction and thought on the part of the viewer are all too rapidly becoming a minority.

What is worst is that even those of us who initially balked at this theatre of the banal seem to have been lulled into accepting such horrific mediocrity. Sinking to Mr Blobby's level and seemingly kicking up no real fuss about having to do so. I hears Mr Lloyd Webber on the radio the other day talking about the fact that many of his hits of the recent years (which, lets face it, were never exactly high-brow themselves!) would now not succeed due to today's penchant for "Popular" shows such as "Mamma Mia". This acceptance of poor quality entertainment threatens viewing across all genres, including television and film as well as theatre. Interaction is the key. Audiences must be willing to become engaged in what they are watching, and not to simply lapse into zombie like apathy in front of the latest episode of Last of the Summer Wine.

We must be willing to always be challenged by new perspectives and new ideas. Here at the theatre, hopefully, it will be the case and that the vast majority of the plays are exactly what you would expect from a company with such a history of top quality productions. There will, however, occasionally be performances that you may upon first inspection not consider going to see. I would plead with you to attend these performances as well. Only then will we all be able to truly overcome the tide of pap.

The BBC’s cultural malaise is worse than anyone imagined, claims the Daily Mail.

Bob Larby – the scriptwriter of “The Good Life” and well know in Am-Dram for “A Month of Saturdays” recently sent the BBC a proposal for an adaptation of Jerome K Jerome’s classic novel “Three Men in a Boat”. He was bemused to receive the following reply: “Sorry but the BBC is not considering any more game shows at this present time”.