CURTAIN CALL
BRIAN RAWLINS rounds up the latest offerings from amateur dramatics groups...
NORTH Staffordshire drama and musical theatre societies have had a bad year because of Covid-19. Productions were cancelled at the last minute and new dates made and cancelled many times. Members have been unable to get together to rehearse, even during the short period when socially distanced theatre attendance was allowed, due to the six-people limit. Worst hit was the North Staffs Operatic Society, which was just about to begin its dress rehearsal for their production of the musical, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, when Stoke Rep announced that it had to close.
The society has now rescheduled the production for March 15-19 next year and chairman Peter Morris tells me that the cast can’t wait to start rehearsals again. Many societies re-scheduled their planned productions, only to have to cancel again. In the end, most cut their losses, cancelled planned productions completely and waited for the pandemic to end.
The Repertory Theatre Players decided to cancel their entire fiveplay season and launch a new one, beginning this coming October. However, the show must go on and local societies are now planning for productions post-covid.
First up will be Musical Youth Theatre Stafford, who are presenting a concert at the Gatehouse Theatre in July. Artz Productions will be presenting a new musical in September, originally planned for June.
It is A Song for You, a musical comedy written by the show’s director, Rachel Millar and musical director Liz Talbot. The show marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the All Woman Choir, based in Stoke-on-trent and Stafford and run by Liz.
The show tells the story of many of the members and the effect that music can have. It features more than 30 musical numbers.
The Repertory Players have chosen their usual five plays for their new season, that runs from October to June next year.
It starts with Duets by Peter Quilter and consists of four 20-minutes two-handers, specially chosen to enable legal rehearsals! Directed by Rosemary Gresty, the plays show four views of relationships by people of different ages.
(April), and one of my all-time favourite comedies, Present Laughter by Noel Coward (June). Newcastle Operatic Society have announced two productions. In November they will be presenting one of my all-time favourite musicals, Fiddler on the Roof. Those wonderful songs in this musical will be directed by Alison Fisher and the director will be James Freeman. Auditions are to be held in late May.
The society is also doing a spring production in May 2022. It will be Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with songs from the 1996 film adaptation.
Both productions will be at the Stoke Rep Theatre.
Musical Theatre Stafford is to present the delayed production of Made in Dagenham, at the Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford in October. This musical version of the famous play about the strike for equal pay by the female upholstery workers of the Ford car factory is a powerful story with some brilliant songs.
In May, Stoke Musical Youth Theatre will be re-casting their production of the ever popular musical, Grease, for presentation at Stoke Repertory Theatre from November 8-13. Director will be Craig Armstrong and musical director Joe Hearson.
The group will be up and running by the summer, with the Stoke Youth Academy reopening physically in April.
There is still a long way to go, but at last there is some joy on the horizon for amateur companies. Many have lost large sums on cancelled productions, so they will need all the help they can from local audiences, when final details are announced.