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Featured Group
Stafford Players (Public)
Owner: staffordplayers1
We are an Amateur Theatrical Group which presents plays of all genres.
Stafford Players is an Amateur Dramatic Group formed in 1943. It presents drama of all genres, mainly in Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre.
For full details of our Society and all our productions please access our Website www.staffordplayers.co.uk
Contact Information
Contact Address: via our Website www.staffordplayers.co.uk
Contact Telephone Number: 01785 614924
Website: http://www.staffordplayers.co.uk
NODA Region: Midland Area
Rehearsal Information: Most Mondays and Thursdays at 7.30pm
Rehearsal Venue
Stafford Players rehearses in the Perkins Club on Tixal Road in Stafford most Mondays and Thursdays.
Production Venue
We usually present our plays at Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre in November, February and May.The Box Office number is 01785 254653 and their Website address is www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk
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Aldermaston Players's Description
Aldermaston Players are an amateur dramatic group that perform musicals, revues and plays for the benefit of our local community and the theatre loving public in our area. Performing since 1996 but took the bold step to become official in Sep 2011. More information on our website http://www.aldermastonplayers.co.uk or on FB at http://www.facebook....ermastonPlayers Do get in touch if you're interested in any part of theatrical performance: onstage, backstage, front of house or audience! Aldermaston Players
Owner: sidp123 -
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Springers AODS - Chelmsford, Essex's Description
Springers was formed back in 1982, and the group has gone from performing shows in local halls to performing two shows a year on the Civic and Cramphorn Theatre stages in Chelmsford, Essex. Those of you who have supported us over the years will know that we consistently strive to stage professional quality productions. We differ from some other groups in that not only do we perform timeless favourites, but also challenge ourselves and entertain our audiences with excellent less well-known musicals. In recent years, this diversity has attracted many new members of all ages and backgrounds, and we hope our forthcoming programme of shows will continue to have the same effect. If you think you may be interested in becoming involved, either onstage or behind the scenes (where the jobs are numerous, interesting and varied), then please contact our Membership Secretary whose details can be found on the website. You will find that we are a very friendly society, and you can always be assured of a warm welcome. Please take your time to peruse our website, and we will be happy to answer any questions or inquiries you may have. Even if you don’t get the urge to join us, we look forward to your continued support as a member of our audience for future shows. -
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KVODS's Description
KVODS is an award nominated amateur musical theatre group based in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. Members are aged 16 years & over and perform 2 major musicals a year at the Performing Arts Centre, Kingston Grammar School. There is also an award winning youth section, Young KVODS, aged for young people aged 7 to 16 years who perform one major musical per year. -
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Crowborough Players's Description
Crowborough's community theatre group established 1933 and still going strong! The Players are actors, singers, dancers, technicians, stage managers, set-builders, tea-makers and all sorts of people of all ages, abilities and experience. We perform up to 3 times a year; usually a panto at Christmas and with the odd murder mystery evening. Everyone welcome to join in the fun on stage, back stage or front of house, whatever your skills (or lack of them)! See you soon? CP xx website: www.crowboroughplayers.com facebook: http://www.facebook....wboroughPlayers twitter: @Crow_Players email: crowborough.players@gmail.com location: Crowborough Communuty Centre, Crowborough, East Sussex, UK -
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The Good Companions's Description
A well-established musical theatre company performing quality productions twice a year in the heart of Derby. - A Revue in the Spring at Derby Guildhall Theatre - and a full-scale musical at The Derby Theatre in the Autumn. Check out our website .... www.goodcomps.co.uk - for further details. Note website currently under construction, but details of our next production, "Oliver!" - 16-20 October 2012 at Derby Theatre, Westfield, are posted on there. -
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Adel Players's Description
Founded in 1945, Adel Players is a long-established amateur drama group with at present over 40 members. We put on three plays a year in our own theatre space at the Adel Memorial Hall in North Leeds as part of the Adel Sports & Social Club (Adel War Memorial Association). We are a friendly group with adult members of all ages and from all walks of life. What we all have in common is a shared enjoyment of bringing plays to life for our audiences. We vary our choice of plays so that there is something for everyone - comedies, thrillers, dramas and farces - and many of our audience members have become so loyal that they book tickets before we've started rehearsing the next production! Find out more by visiting our website at http://www.adel-players.org.uk and contact us for further details. You can also connect with us on Facebook and @adelplayers. Adel Players
Owner: AdelPlayers
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The Launton Village Players's Description
The Launton Village Players are an amateur drama & entertainment group based near Bicester. We stage an annual, very successful, pantomime and also perform during the year with a musical show in the summer and a play. All profits are donated to charity.DescriptionThe Village Players performed their 26th original family pantomime BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on the 16th, 17th and 18th of February 2012 at Cooper School Performance Hall, Bicester, Oxfordshire Beauty and the Beast broke all our previous box office records. We sold 1185 tickets and raised a gigantic £4376 for charity bringing the total raised by the group over the years to over £70,000. A Short History of The Launton Pantomime The Village Players have put on a Pantomime since 1986. The casts have changed: so have the shows. But there have been some common themes as well. Since they started in 1986 Launton Pantos have had original scripts. Early shows were collaborative, but since The Grand Old Duke of Launton (1991) the main writer has been Martin Evans while two recent shows, Simple Simon (2009) and Bo Peep (2011), have been written by Rod Fine. Since Mother Goose (2002), original music has been composed by Steve Webber, the Musical Director. All three live in Launton. Early Pantos were in the Parish Hall just after Christmas. The Hall did not have a performance licence so they were family parties. A bucket was passed round for donations to cover costs. From 1991 the Panto has set out to raise money as well as provide fun for audiences and cast. There has been continuity in the shows and the people of the twenty five Pantos since Robin Hood: Writer and Director (Martin Evans) and Producer (Celia Evans) have been involved since the first show, and Celia has been on stage in all shows. Off-stage Pat Tucker, author of Entertaining Launton, has been involved in all shows, except the year she broke her wrist. Many members have notched up over 20 year’s service, and there are second generation members. At the same time, some of the 2010 cast are on stage for the first time since Primary School Nativity or Secondary School Shakespeare. From The Grand Old Duke of Launton, which raised £170.50 in 1991, until Bo Peep in 2010, the Panto has donated over £55,000 to a mix of local and national charities and good causes. This has been raised at 122 performances to over 16,600 people. The Panto has given many children their first experience of live theatre, and we now see original audiences returning with their own children. Local businesses have supported the Panto: they have advertised in the programme, donated raffle prizes, offered special deals on materials, and supported promotion. Schools and other organisations in Launton, in Bicester, and in surrounding villages, have loaned equipment and helped with promotion. There have been major changes over the years. The move from the Parish Hall to the Sports and Social Club, in 1988, which increased available seating and offered larger audiences. Moving the performances to February half term in 1991, which made rehearsals more convenient for the cast, and made recruiting an audience much easier over half term. The move back to the Parish Hall (with a temporary performance licence) in 1992 so the Panto could put on an extended run. The move to Cooper School Performance Hall in 1999 which doubled the possible audience numbers for each show and offered proper front of house facilities, disabled access and comfortable seating. Since 2001, all-original music and songs for each show. Since 1986 and through all these changes, in different venues and with different casts, supported by different musicians and an exotic collection of special effects, the spirit of Panto has remained at the heart of the show: music, songs, romance, dance, a love story, magic (real and imaginary), animals more human than the humans, animals who can talk, broker’s men, a children’s chorus, specialty acts, men dressed as women dressed as men, women dressed as men pretending to be women and, always, the audience who play their own part in bringing the show to life, not only through the audience song. The Launton Panto will take you to magic lands where anything is possible: where dragons breathe fire; where knights are bold; where princesses are beautiful and forever sixteen; where good triumphs over evil; where carpets fly and unbelievable science somehow works; and where there is always a happy ending. For 2012, and its twenty sixth Panto, the Players have gone to the world of children's stories for the basic plot. Beauty and The Beast first appeared in the early Eighteenth Century in France, as La Belle et La Bête, and has been the basis for opera, films, books and stage plays, as well as pantomimes. Our version stays fairly close to the basic story of the original but changes many details, and, of course, adds all the traditional Pantomime business. The setting, Nursery Rhyme Land, is ours, as is starting by explaining why The Beast is bewitched before moving into the main story. Beauty's father, who in the original story was a merchant who loses all his fortune through a tempest at sea, in our version has lost his money in the stock market crash. We also add local colour (Piddington Pixies, the Otmoor Swamp, the hidden Blackthorn Ravine) and contemporary references. The Three Golden Acorns, and the character of Silenis, are also special Launton touches! This is the strength of Launton Pantomimes - traditional stories on which to build inventive plot developments, local references, and the opportunity for imaginative special effects. And to make shows which have a happy ending at the end of all the action. Launton Pantomimes since 1986: some facts Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Launtingham (1986) put on in the Parish Hall: 2 performances How The Wild West End Was Won (1987) about the plan to build on open land in Launton, Parish Hall: 2 performances Cinderella (1988, but performed on 3 and 4 January 1989) in the Sports and Social Club (LSSC): 2 performances Aladdin (1989) the traditional story, with lots of washing LSSC: 3 performances The Grand Old Duke of Launton (1991) moved the show to mid-February. Raised £170.50. LSSC: 3 performances Robinson Crusoe (1992) returned to the Parish Hall. Raised £450. increased to 4 performances Dick Whittington (1993) raised £900, added a marquee to the Parish Hall: 4 performances Snow White (1994) raised over £1,100. Parish Hall: 5 performances Ali Baba (1995) raised £1,500: half was given to the Parish Hall in memory of Simon de la Bedoyère who had been active in early Pantos. Parish Hall: 5 performances Jack and the Beanstalk (1996) raised over £2,000 and featured a fearsome Giant who had to bend double to get on stage. Parish Hall: 6 performances George and the Dragon (1997) raised over £2,000, most of which was donated to the Launton branch of ICRF in memory of Penny Young, a long-time supporter. Parish Hall: 6 performances Puss in Boots (1998) raised £2,100 and was the final Parish Hall Panto. It sold out all performances (606 seats) a week before the first night: 6 performances Sleeping Beauty (1999) was the first Panto at Cooper School. It sold just under 900 seats for its five shows, and raised over £2,300: 5 performances Cinderella (2000) was the second try at the classic story with a new script. Sold 998 seats and raised £3,000: 5 performances Aladdin (2001) Another reprise and new script, which raised £2,500: 5 performances Mother Goose & Son Honk! Honk! (2002) The first Launton Pantomime with entirely original music by Steve Webber. Sold over 1,000 seats. Raised £3,500: 5 performances Red Riding Hood (2003) was the traditional story set in the ancient Bernwood Forest. Raised £3,850: 5 performances Ethel and the Pirate King (2004)was an entirely original story and script. Raised £3,500: 6 performances Babes in the Wood (2005) told a more traditional story, again set in Bernwood Forest. Raised £4,250: 6 performances Dick Whittington (2006) was a big change from the smaller-scale 1993 show put on in Launton Parish Hall. Raised £4,150: 6 performances Humpty Dumpty (2007) The 21st Birthday show. Raised £4,200, most donated in memory of Dave Wiggins who had been actor, dancer, stage hand, and lighting and sound supremo for the Panto for many years: 6 performances The Adventures of Sinbad (2008) The Rappin’ Rasta Oyster, with his angel chorus of singing bats, won the special effects award from the Oxfordshire Drama Network. Bicester Box Office moved to Occasions after Ashmore's closed. Raised £4,000: 6 performances Simple Simon (2009) A debut script from Rod Fine with Martin Evans directing and Steve Webber writing the music. Ticket prices were reduced to 2006 levels. Raised £3,050: 6 performances Rumpelstiltskin (2010) Bicester Box Office moved to the Oxfam shop. Over 1,000 tickets sold. Raised £3,150: 6 performances Bo Peep (2011) was the second script from Rod Fine, featuring talking sheep, multilingual European Ladies and a stunning scene on the Moon. Over 1,000 tickets sold. Raised £3,100: 6 performances Beauty and The Beast (2012) this year’s show. To listen to some of our original music click on the following link http://www.myspace.c...auntonpantomime You can also download some of our cast recordings from iTunes and remember, all proceeds are donated to charity. Click on the following link to go straight to our page on iTunes http://tiny.cc/ralmc The Parrot logo explained. A long long time ago in a land that we call Panto a parrot appeared. This welcome guest has been featured on every pantomime set since. Undoubtedly a good luck charm he was finally given a name "ELVIS" at our 2012 panto wind up party. Our feathered friend has long been the official logo of The Launton Village Players and now features on both the Facebook and Twitter pages and will continue to do so unless we have a specific production to promote. -
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Havering Music Makers's Description
Havering Music Makers are a Musical Theatre Society based in Romford (in the London Borough of Havering - hence the name). They have a reputation for high quality shows and of an incredibly friendly atmosphere within the group. They perform most of our shows at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch. www.haveringmusicmakers.co.uk -
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Llandudno Youth Music Theatre's Description
Llandudno Youth Music Theatre (LYMT) was formed in1978 to offer a youth music theatre for children and young people working through the disciplines of musical theatre. In 2006 the age group expanded to 6 – 19 years with the opening of our workshop sessions Stagenotes for children aged 6 – 16. LYMT is run on a voluntary basis and is lucky to work regularly with experienced tutors. Professional actors and musicians are also involved with the group every year. Productions in the last few years have included, ‘The Likes of Us’, ‘Billy Elliot’ and ‘The Wiz’. LYMT aims to provide the children and young people with confidence, social skills, team working skills and an awareness of their communities working through drama, singing and dance ensuring that the sessions are fun. For more information about Llandudno Youth Music Theatre and Stagenotes why not visit our website www.lymt.co.uk or email us on lymt@btopenworld.com Auditions for membership of the performance group are held in September of each year for the age group 13 and above. -
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Alrewas Dramatic Society's Description
Alrewas Dramatic Society was established in 1957 and is still going strong. Based in Staffordshire and just north of Lichfield, we aim to produce good quality amateur productions to a professional standard on a local stage for the local community. We generally do three productions each year with at least one production each year being either a Panto or a Variety Show. These are complemented with different styles of plays. Upcoming Production: A Few Good Men (25-28th April 2012) Recent productions: Teechers (2011)The Three Musketeers - Panto (2011)Twelfth Night (2010)An Inspector Calls (2010) www.alrewasdrama.com Alrewas Dramatic Society
Owner: Gareth -
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Acorn Theatre Company's Description
Acorn Theatre Company is an amateur dramatic society based in Enfield, North London. We present a pantomime and musical annually with the profits from these productions being donated to local charities. Since we were formed in 1989, Acorn has donated over £64,000 to local charities. We are always looking for new members to join our successful, fun and enthusiastic group. Please contact Simon on 07946 201 507 for more information. Acorn Theatre Company
Owner: Acorn -
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Hatton Operatic Society's Description
Hatton Operatic Society
Owner: ajarvest
Popular Groups
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Acorn Theatre Company's Description
Acorn Theatre Company is an amateur dramatic society based in Enfield, North London. We present a pantomime and musical annually with the profits from these productions being donated to local charities. Since we were formed in 1989, Acorn has donated over £64,000 to local charities. We are always looking for new members to join our successful, fun and enthusiastic group. Please contact Simon on 07946 201 507 for more information. -
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Bolton Little Theatre's Description
Theatre We are a vibrant amateur theatre company run by members we put on a programme of seven plays each year, running from Saturday to Saturday generally excluding Sunday and we put on extra nights for charities and parties. Out theatre has two auditoria the Main theatre, a traditional procenium stage with auditorium seating 160 and The Forge Theatre a more intimate space seating 60.people We run theatre workshops and have a Youth group for people interested in training in theatre. Members also provide touring productions such as Murder Mysteries and small cast productions at outside venues. Our newly furbished bar area provides us with a third acting space. The theatre is situated a quarter of a mile west of town centre. It is asy to get to from bus and train stations and we have a small car park. Membership is £12 per year and Members night is Monday from 7.30, Youth groups meets on Tuesdays. Rehearsal nights are variable. Our Patron in Sir Ian McKellen. We are a Member of The Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies, The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain and The Greater Manchester Drama Federation. Contact Information Contact Address: Contact Telephone Number: 01204 524469 Website: http://boltonlittletheatre.co.uk/ NODA Region: North West Area Rehearsal Information: Usually Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30 to 10pm Sundays at 2pm Subject to change by the director Rehearsal Venue Rehearsals either on the stage or in the rehearsal room at the theatre Production Venue Bolton Little Theatre, Hanover Street, Bolton -
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Adlington Music & Arts Society's Description
Musicals, Christmas Concert Adlington Music and Arts Society began in 1948 as a small group of friends rehearsing Gilbert and Sullivan in the Music Room at Appenzel, Babylon Lane, Anderton, the home of Mr C.E. Marsden. The Original members included Rev. J.A.Wedderburn,Rev. A, Hodgson, Mr C.E.Marsden and Mr Tom Shaw who was our President from 1979 to 2002. For the first two Years they sang as a Choral Group. The first A.G.M. to Officially form the Society, was held on 9th March 1950, which 65 people attended. Contact Information Contact Address: Adlington Community Centre Railway Road Adlington Chorley Lancashire PR6 9RF Contact Telephone Number: Coming Soon Website: http://www.adlingtonmusicandarts.com NODA Region: North West Area Rehearsal Information: Rehearsals are generally held on a Tuesday and Thursday @ Adlington Community Centre Rehearsal Venue We normally rehearse at the following venue: Adlington Community Centre Railway Road Adlington Chorley Lancashire PR6 9RF Production Venue We normally rehearse at the following venue: Adlington Community Centre Railway Road Adlington Chorley Lancashire PR6 9RF -
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Stafford Players's Description
We are an Amateur Theatrical Group which presents plays of all genres. Stafford Players is an Amateur Dramatic Group formed in 1943. It presents drama of all genres, mainly in Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre. For full details of our Society and all our productions please access our Website www.staffordplayers.co.uk Contact Information Contact Address: via our Website www.staffordplayers.co.uk Contact Telephone Number: 01785 614924 Website: http://www.staffordplayers.co.uk NODA Region: Midland Area Rehearsal Information: Most Mondays and Thursdays at 7.30pm Rehearsal Venue Stafford Players rehearses in the Perkins Club on Tixal Road in Stafford most Mondays and Thursdays. Production Venue We usually present our plays at Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre in November, February and May.The Box Office number is 01785 254653 and their Website address is www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk -
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Aldermaston Players's Description
Aldermaston Players are an amateur dramatic group that perform musicals, revues and plays for the benefit of our local community and the theatre loving public in our area. Performing since 1996 but took the bold step to become official in Sep 2011. More information on our website http://www.aldermastonplayers.co.uk or on FB at http://www.facebook....ermastonPlayers Do get in touch if you're interested in any part of theatrical performance: onstage, backstage, front of house or audience! -
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Springers AODS - Chelmsford, Essex's Description
Springers was formed back in 1982, and the group has gone from performing shows in local halls to performing two shows a year on the Civic and Cramphorn Theatre stages in Chelmsford, Essex. Those of you who have supported us over the years will know that we consistently strive to stage professional quality productions. We differ from some other groups in that not only do we perform timeless favourites, but also challenge ourselves and entertain our audiences with excellent less well-known musicals. In recent years, this diversity has attracted many new members of all ages and backgrounds, and we hope our forthcoming programme of shows will continue to have the same effect. If you think you may be interested in becoming involved, either onstage or behind the scenes (where the jobs are numerous, interesting and varied), then please contact our Membership Secretary whose details can be found on the website. You will find that we are a very friendly society, and you can always be assured of a warm welcome. Please take your time to peruse our website, and we will be happy to answer any questions or inquiries you may have. Even if you don’t get the urge to join us, we look forward to your continued support as a member of our audience for future shows.
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KVODS's Description
KVODS is an award nominated amateur musical theatre group based in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. Members are aged 16 years & over and perform 2 major musicals a year at the Performing Arts Centre, Kingston Grammar School. There is also an award winning youth section, Young KVODS, aged for young people aged 7 to 16 years who perform one major musical per year. -
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Crowborough Players's Description
Crowborough's community theatre group established 1933 and still going strong! The Players are actors, singers, dancers, technicians, stage managers, set-builders, tea-makers and all sorts of people of all ages, abilities and experience. We perform up to 3 times a year; usually a panto at Christmas and with the odd murder mystery evening. Everyone welcome to join in the fun on stage, back stage or front of house, whatever your skills (or lack of them)! See you soon? CP xx website: www.crowboroughplayers.com facebook: http://www.facebook....wboroughPlayers twitter: @Crow_Players email: crowborough.players@gmail.com location: Crowborough Communuty Centre, Crowborough, East Sussex, UK -
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The Good Companions's Description
A well-established musical theatre company performing quality productions twice a year in the heart of Derby. - A Revue in the Spring at Derby Guildhall Theatre - and a full-scale musical at The Derby Theatre in the Autumn. Check out our website .... www.goodcomps.co.uk - for further details. Note website currently under construction, but details of our next production, "Oliver!" - 16-20 October 2012 at Derby Theatre, Westfield, are posted on there. -
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Adel Players's Description
Founded in 1945, Adel Players is a long-established amateur drama group with at present over 40 members. We put on three plays a year in our own theatre space at the Adel Memorial Hall in North Leeds as part of the Adel Sports & Social Club (Adel War Memorial Association). We are a friendly group with adult members of all ages and from all walks of life. What we all have in common is a shared enjoyment of bringing plays to life for our audiences. We vary our choice of plays so that there is something for everyone - comedies, thrillers, dramas and farces - and many of our audience members have become so loyal that they book tickets before we've started rehearsing the next production! Find out more by visiting our website at http://www.adel-players.org.uk and contact us for further details. You can also connect with us on Facebook and @adelplayers. -
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The Launton Village Players's Description
The Launton Village Players are an amateur drama & entertainment group based near Bicester. We stage an annual, very successful, pantomime and also perform during the year with a musical show in the summer and a play. All profits are donated to charity.DescriptionThe Village Players performed their 26th original family pantomime BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on the 16th, 17th and 18th of February 2012 at Cooper School Performance Hall, Bicester, Oxfordshire Beauty and the Beast broke all our previous box office records. We sold 1185 tickets and raised a gigantic £4376 for charity bringing the total raised by the group over the years to over £70,000. A Short History of The Launton Pantomime The Village Players have put on a Pantomime since 1986. The casts have changed: so have the shows. But there have been some common themes as well. Since they started in 1986 Launton Pantos have had original scripts. Early shows were collaborative, but since The Grand Old Duke of Launton (1991) the main writer has been Martin Evans while two recent shows, Simple Simon (2009) and Bo Peep (2011), have been written by Rod Fine. Since Mother Goose (2002), original music has been composed by Steve Webber, the Musical Director. All three live in Launton. Early Pantos were in the Parish Hall just after Christmas. The Hall did not have a performance licence so they were family parties. A bucket was passed round for donations to cover costs. From 1991 the Panto has set out to raise money as well as provide fun for audiences and cast. There has been continuity in the shows and the people of the twenty five Pantos since Robin Hood: Writer and Director (Martin Evans) and Producer (Celia Evans) have been involved since the first show, and Celia has been on stage in all shows. Off-stage Pat Tucker, author of Entertaining Launton, has been involved in all shows, except the year she broke her wrist. Many members have notched up over 20 year’s service, and there are second generation members. At the same time, some of the 2010 cast are on stage for the first time since Primary School Nativity or Secondary School Shakespeare. From The Grand Old Duke of Launton, which raised £170.50 in 1991, until Bo Peep in 2010, the Panto has donated over £55,000 to a mix of local and national charities and good causes. This has been raised at 122 performances to over 16,600 people. The Panto has given many children their first experience of live theatre, and we now see original audiences returning with their own children. Local businesses have supported the Panto: they have advertised in the programme, donated raffle prizes, offered special deals on materials, and supported promotion. Schools and other organisations in Launton, in Bicester, and in surrounding villages, have loaned equipment and helped with promotion. There have been major changes over the years. The move from the Parish Hall to the Sports and Social Club, in 1988, which increased available seating and offered larger audiences. Moving the performances to February half term in 1991, which made rehearsals more convenient for the cast, and made recruiting an audience much easier over half term. The move back to the Parish Hall (with a temporary performance licence) in 1992 so the Panto could put on an extended run. The move to Cooper School Performance Hall in 1999 which doubled the possible audience numbers for each show and offered proper front of house facilities, disabled access and comfortable seating. Since 2001, all-original music and songs for each show. Since 1986 and through all these changes, in different venues and with different casts, supported by different musicians and an exotic collection of special effects, the spirit of Panto has remained at the heart of the show: music, songs, romance, dance, a love story, magic (real and imaginary), animals more human than the humans, animals who can talk, broker’s men, a children’s chorus, specialty acts, men dressed as women dressed as men, women dressed as men pretending to be women and, always, the audience who play their own part in bringing the show to life, not only through the audience song. The Launton Panto will take you to magic lands where anything is possible: where dragons breathe fire; where knights are bold; where princesses are beautiful and forever sixteen; where good triumphs over evil; where carpets fly and unbelievable science somehow works; and where there is always a happy ending. For 2012, and its twenty sixth Panto, the Players have gone to the world of children's stories for the basic plot. Beauty and The Beast first appeared in the early Eighteenth Century in France, as La Belle et La Bête, and has been the basis for opera, films, books and stage plays, as well as pantomimes. Our version stays fairly close to the basic story of the original but changes many details, and, of course, adds all the traditional Pantomime business. The setting, Nursery Rhyme Land, is ours, as is starting by explaining why The Beast is bewitched before moving into the main story. Beauty's father, who in the original story was a merchant who loses all his fortune through a tempest at sea, in our version has lost his money in the stock market crash. We also add local colour (Piddington Pixies, the Otmoor Swamp, the hidden Blackthorn Ravine) and contemporary references. The Three Golden Acorns, and the character of Silenis, are also special Launton touches! This is the strength of Launton Pantomimes - traditional stories on which to build inventive plot developments, local references, and the opportunity for imaginative special effects. And to make shows which have a happy ending at the end of all the action. Launton Pantomimes since 1986: some facts Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Launtingham (1986) put on in the Parish Hall: 2 performances How The Wild West End Was Won (1987) about the plan to build on open land in Launton, Parish Hall: 2 performances Cinderella (1988, but performed on 3 and 4 January 1989) in the Sports and Social Club (LSSC): 2 performances Aladdin (1989) the traditional story, with lots of washing LSSC: 3 performances The Grand Old Duke of Launton (1991) moved the show to mid-February. Raised £170.50. LSSC: 3 performances Robinson Crusoe (1992) returned to the Parish Hall. Raised £450. increased to 4 performances Dick Whittington (1993) raised £900, added a marquee to the Parish Hall: 4 performances Snow White (1994) raised over £1,100. Parish Hall: 5 performances Ali Baba (1995) raised £1,500: half was given to the Parish Hall in memory of Simon de la Bedoyère who had been active in early Pantos. Parish Hall: 5 performances Jack and the Beanstalk (1996) raised over £2,000 and featured a fearsome Giant who had to bend double to get on stage. Parish Hall: 6 performances George and the Dragon (1997) raised over £2,000, most of which was donated to the Launton branch of ICRF in memory of Penny Young, a long-time supporter. Parish Hall: 6 performances Puss in Boots (1998) raised £2,100 and was the final Parish Hall Panto. It sold out all performances (606 seats) a week before the first night: 6 performances Sleeping Beauty (1999) was the first Panto at Cooper School. It sold just under 900 seats for its five shows, and raised over £2,300: 5 performances Cinderella (2000) was the second try at the classic story with a new script. Sold 998 seats and raised £3,000: 5 performances Aladdin (2001) Another reprise and new script, which raised £2,500: 5 performances Mother Goose & Son Honk! Honk! (2002) The first Launton Pantomime with entirely original music by Steve Webber. Sold over 1,000 seats. Raised £3,500: 5 performances Red Riding Hood (2003) was the traditional story set in the ancient Bernwood Forest. Raised £3,850: 5 performances Ethel and the Pirate King (2004)was an entirely original story and script. Raised £3,500: 6 performances Babes in the Wood (2005) told a more traditional story, again set in Bernwood Forest. Raised £4,250: 6 performances Dick Whittington (2006) was a big change from the smaller-scale 1993 show put on in Launton Parish Hall. Raised £4,150: 6 performances Humpty Dumpty (2007) The 21st Birthday show. Raised £4,200, most donated in memory of Dave Wiggins who had been actor, dancer, stage hand, and lighting and sound supremo for the Panto for many years: 6 performances The Adventures of Sinbad (2008) The Rappin’ Rasta Oyster, with his angel chorus of singing bats, won the special effects award from the Oxfordshire Drama Network. Bicester Box Office moved to Occasions after Ashmore's closed. Raised £4,000: 6 performances Simple Simon (2009) A debut script from Rod Fine with Martin Evans directing and Steve Webber writing the music. Ticket prices were reduced to 2006 levels. Raised £3,050: 6 performances Rumpelstiltskin (2010) Bicester Box Office moved to the Oxfam shop. Over 1,000 tickets sold. Raised £3,150: 6 performances Bo Peep (2011) was the second script from Rod Fine, featuring talking sheep, multilingual European Ladies and a stunning scene on the Moon. Over 1,000 tickets sold. Raised £3,100: 6 performances Beauty and The Beast (2012) this year’s show. To listen to some of our original music click on the following link http://www.myspace.c...auntonpantomime You can also download some of our cast recordings from iTunes and remember, all proceeds are donated to charity. Click on the following link to go straight to our page on iTunes http://tiny.cc/ralmc The Parrot logo explained. A long long time ago in a land that we call Panto a parrot appeared. This welcome guest has been featured on every pantomime set since. Undoubtedly a good luck charm he was finally given a name "ELVIS" at our 2012 panto wind up party. Our feathered friend has long been the official logo of The Launton Village Players and now features on both the Facebook and Twitter pages and will continue to do so unless we have a specific production to promote. -
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Havering Music Makers's Description
Havering Music Makers are a Musical Theatre Society based in Romford (in the London Borough of Havering - hence the name). They have a reputation for high quality shows and of an incredibly friendly atmosphere within the group. They perform most of our shows at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch. www.haveringmusicmakers.co.uk
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