Thurso Players News

June 2003

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Take a cast of 48 between the ages of 8 and 18, a set on 3 levels and a musical play of 38 scenes and some very messy props - and then wonder if you're off your head!

With a six week rehearsal period, which included the Easter holidays so half the cast disappeared, it was hard work, but the end result was well worth it.

All credit to the cast. Michael Barry as the eponymous hero and Helen Mackay as the sweetly ambitious Blousey held the plot together whilst Donna Swanson as the vamp, Tallulah, caused a few hearts to flutter in the front row of the audience. The gang leaders Dandy Dan (Iain MacDonald) and Fat Sam (Amanda MacLeod) executed their war of custard pies and splurge guns with aplomb but the overall success was due to fact that the many small parts, many with doubling, were tackled professionally and enthusiastically and the essential teamwork carried the show. Names are too many to list here, but a lot of young talent augurs well for the future of the club.

Music is, of course vital to the show. Musical Director, Glyn Jackson with Lesley (Razmataz) Jackson on the piano were more than ably supported by Isaac Sutherland on percussion.

The performers get the applause, but a show like this would be impossible without backstage workers by the dozen. Junior members Neil Mackay and Ben Clark handled a complicated lighting and sound plot and stage manager (John Glen), wardrobe mistress (Dot Murphy), props (Val Ashpool), prompt (Janette Peddie), FOH (Jacqui Robertson) and producer (Mike Gordon) all had specific parts to play but it was the 'unspecified' helpers like Ruby, Tina, Deirdre, Eunice, Barbara, Richard, Eric, Alan, Denise and Jacqui who kept me sane!

And, of course, the audience, without which the show is incomplete. The big set and the big cast meant limiting the number of seats so the four night run was played to packed houses and there was a healthy audience of friends and relations who had been unable to get seats at the dress rehearsal, so that what was an expensive show to stage (big royalties and professionally erected scaffolding) was a financial success as well as good entertainment (I hope!)  Exhausting though! (Betty Bradstreet)

Joe Orton Play Scheduled for July

Sanity/insanity permitting, E. Cruickshank will direct ‘What the Butler Saw’ in the summer, on Thursday 24th, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th July and hopefully avoiding collision with Whoops, An Inspector Calls and casting for Players' Panto 2003. The staging for What the Butler Saw looks terrifying, never mind keeping up with the changes of of sex/identity in the script, so if you fancy some backstage midsummer madness, phone E. Cruickshank (894109). Please supply your own tranquilisers. (Eunice Cruickshank)

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An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley is a three act play set in the North Midlands in 1912. The play, directed by Andrew Crawford and produced by Betty Bradstreet, will be performed on the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th of September. There is a cast of seven characters, four male and three female, covering a range of ages. Auditions will be held on June 25^th at 7.30pm in the Mill. Anyone interested who cannot attend should phone Andrew on 07796883652. (Andrew Crawford)

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Whoops VII : The Wonder Years

This year's Whoops has as its basic theme The WonderYears - the 60's and 70's etc. The juniors have a group of adults searching for suitable performance pieces, sketches and one act plays that might be included. Letters including application forms for all current junior members have been sent out, and booking of places are being accepted by post. If you are interested please return your form as soon as possible to John Glen, 5 Coupers Cottages, Barrock KW14 8SZ. As in previous years we have only 30 places to offer in the interest of safety, and we are looking forward to a very interesting time. Performances at the end of the workshops will be as usual on the Friday and Saturday evenings of 18th &19th July. Tickets for these performances priced at £4 and £2 can be booked by calling John Glen on 01847 851490. (John Glen)

Pantomime 2003 Cinderella

It seems early to be talking about pantomime, but, the directing, musical, design and technical work has already begun. The script has arrived and scene by scene breakdown completed ready for work to begin. Painting of backcloths, midcloth and frontcloth are already planned and under way. A full technical meeting will follow soon and of course auditions. This year the auditions will be early to allow principals to have their books down as early as possible into rehearsal (except for the essential edits for local/topical jokes etc.) If time permits, without interrupting rehearsals for 'An Inspector Calls', we will also look at the possibility of an early start to some singing and dancing.

Audition times Sunday 10th August 2 till 5pm - This will involve readings, singing and dancing. Sorry, but juniors must be of secondary school age to audition. The main characters this year are:-

Buttons  Cinderella , Baron Hardup, Baroness Hardup (Evil Stepmother), Daisy & Buttercup (Ugly Sisters)

Fairy Godmother, The King, The Prince, Dandini (King's Chamberlain)

Prime Minister, Court Ministers, Milk Maids, Mice

Please come along and let director John Glen know you are interested or if you cannot attend please phone him on 01847 851490. (John Glen)

Annual General Meeting

Thurso Players' Annual General meeting was held in The Mill on Wednesday 28th May. A disappointing turnout at least guaranteed a short meeting. Retiring Chairman, Denise Imrie, gave a full and comprehensive report on a busy year and the membership was thoroughly appreciative of the huge amount of effort which she has given to the club in the past two years.

The committee for 2003-4 was elected :-

The Professional Programme is now being managed by Jacqui Robertson, Wardrobe Mistress is Dot Murphy, the Mill Managers are John Firth and Alan Gerrard, SCDA rep. is Ruby Sinclair and Child Protection Officer is Mike Gordon. Membership was agreed as at last year's level:-   

                                                        Full    £20     Concessionary     £10

                                                    Junior    £7       Associate              £5

The minutes of the AGM along with the Chairman's and the Treasurer's reports will be posted on the Mill Notice board.

MILL DEVELOPMENT

Plans for refurbishment and extensions were put on hold due to rumours of the sale of the Old Foundry. To investigate the possibility of buying part of the buildings a sub-committee was set up, chaired by Trevor Williams. A single large grant would be sought for both the Mill and Foundry building. However, as the sale now seems to be on indefinite hold, the committee has decided to go ahead with Mill Plans. The Mill managers and Derek Bradstreet have been progressing these plans. The major proposals are:

1. Erect a small extension between the ramp and the archway (the mill pend).
2. Raise the height of the control box so as to improve sight-lines for the audience with a steeper 'rake'
3. Improve the stage lighting.
4. Surface the car park.

   The total cost of  these improvements will be in the region of £25,000. Other plans on the cards come under a 'repair and maintenance' heading and need to be treated separately. The extension will be of three storeys, the lower one incorporating the audience entrance, affording several advantages over the present arrangement. The first floor will provide storage space for the auditorium seating and the second floor will be used for toilet facilities. It is hoped that substantial progress will be made on this project by the date of the next AGM.

Chairman's Report 2002-03

Things have been pretty busy - nay hectic - since last year's AGM! With The Players own productions, the Professional Programme and numerous events the Mill Theatre has hosted about 30 "happenings".

Thurso Players productions:

'Allo 'Allo, Twelfith night, Beauty and the Beast, SCDA plays ("2 adult, 2 junior) & Bugsy Malone.

Professional  Programme

Music, solo artists and innovative touring drama have given audiences many stimulating evenings - and everyone says they love the Mill Theatre.

Club Nights

A voice workshop and a light-hearted script reading session drew about a dozen members to each. The "Valentine's Day Night" café style entertainment for members proved very popular and the Victorian Music Hall evening this Saturday has attracted a lot of interest. Clearly those last two formulas have answered a need to giver more members the opportunity to perform an informal programme with minimum rehearsal & technical demands.  The productions have been supported and appreciated by associate members. It's also clear that many members like to sing!

Thurso Players Juniors

A thriving junior membership meets each Friday for drama workshops supported by adult helpers. Last year's summer "Whoops" fortnight attracted a younger membership and another "Whoops" runs this summer. Older juniors took part in pantomime and the exuberant production of Bugsey Malone had a cast of 48 with some very promising talent amongst the teenies. David McColm has been a hard working and effective junior rep.

Other events

The gala gang again took the prize for the most original float with a topical Harry Potter theme. The Mill Theatre hosted SYT Northern auditions and the Players have supported older juniors attending SYT courses in Glasgow.

Links with other groups

The players have co-hosted some Lyth Arts Centre professional touring events whilst the extension is being built to the Centre. Grey Coast Theatre has hired the Mill Theatre for rehearsals and performances. The Players have representation on the Caithness Arts Board as it seeks to develop a North Arts venue.

Housekeeping

Oh what a problem getting Mr and Mrs Mops! And what a good fortune that Diedre Lawes solved it! She won't go on stage but as well as organising the bar she volunteered to take on the Mrs Mops role and do the cleaning of all the downstairs area on a weekly basis.

Wardrobe and Props

Dot Murphy took over as wardrobe mistress when Val retired after the pantomime and work began in spring on the long planned massive sort out. The team has done a great job, a new carpet has been laid and the wardrobe dressing room - the original Mill Theatre by the way- seems a lot more spacious. Dot plans further sorting to make wardrobe more users friendly. The two Barbaras have been doing a similar splendid job with props.

Communications and publicity have been improved with a regular quarterly news letter and a new website, both produced by Ken Murphy.

What needs Working on?

Storage is inefficient and costing us a lot of money. Currently we hire part of the drill Hall and a garage. Do any members have contacts or solutions?

Amongst hive of Mill activity an important but inactive area is that of developing new theatre skills. Professional workshops could be arranged -do members want them and would they support them? How many new Adult members have we attracted over the last few years? How friendly are we to any new members and what should we do to keep them?

I sometimes think we're like that old metaphor of the swan - gliding serenely on the surface but underneath paddling like hell! The Mill Theatre is the only theatre in the North of Scotland. With new legislation and increasing demands it takes a lot of work just to keep the building going and approved for public performance, let alone having the time for acting which is why most of us are here! And it's all done on a voluntary basis fitted in to busy lives. It is a credit to Thurso Players that they have enough of that creative king of madness to keep on doing it!

I am stepping down as chairman after two years and would like to thank the committees I have worked with and to say to every one - well, there's no business like show business! (Denise Imrie)

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