Double the fun at Guild

Two-play shows

Almost 200 women dressed to impress for the annual Lasses’Lunch extravaganza which raised more than £5000 for St Andrew’s and Strathcarron hospices.

Hosted by North Lanarkshire Provost Jean Jones, the ladies kicked off the occasion by being piped in to a sparkling wine reception at the Alona Hotel in Motherwell.

Guests browsed various craft stalls before sitting down to a two-course meal and an afternoon of fun, games and dancing.

Broadcaster Steve McKenna got the party started by hosting games with a range of prizes on offer.

Glamorous photos were taken at a photo booth provided by Culture NL who, along with NL Leisure, NL Industries and local businesses, donated prizes for the raffle.

This year’s funds will be divided between the two hospices which provide round-the-clock specialist palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses.

Louise O’Donnell, deputy head of fundraising at St Andrew’s Hospice, said“It was a fabulous day, which everyone enjoyed whilst raising vital funds to help us continue to make a difference to the lives of our patients.”

The Airdrie Ar ts Guild Drama Group is making a muchanticipated return later this month – with not one, but two, big productions.

Both one- act plays will be performed on the same nights when the talented thespians hit the stage at Ebenezer Church hall from May 23-25.

As part of the group’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the “An Evening of Two Halves” show will be split between performances of “Shanghaied” and “Gone But Not Forgotten”.

Written by Liz Lochhead, “Shanghaied” is set in 1939 and sees the Second World War through the eyes of four children.

The play is all about childhood relationships as the four kids bond together; their identities “alter forever because of their proximity to each other and the influence each one has on the others”.

James Cameron Morton penned “Gone But Not Forgotten”, the tale of a family gathering on the death of an “unfaithful, womanising, pigeon-fancying husband” in a 1970s Glasgow tenement building setting.

This hilarious look at a family at war sees grief and decorum go down the hole along with the coffin.

A group spokesperson said: “This is sure to be a wonderful night of entertainment featuring two top class, very different, oneact plays and we welcome everyone along to join us.”

Tickets for “An Evening of Two Halves” are priced £ 10 and are available now by calling 07506 214737 or visiting www. ticketsource. co. uk/ aagdg; the performances start at 7.30pm.