17Jul 15

Summer Message From Our Chair, Lynn Pegler

To all Kingsley Players members

Dear friends,

I have a number of news items to share with you.

Cheshire Theatre Guild Awards

Firstly big congratulations to our members who were nominated for annual awards by the Cheshire Theatre Guild. Our production of Time of Your Life by Alan Ayckbourn in May was the first time we had invited the Guild to adjudicate one of our performances and we were delighted when Malcolm Barker was nominated for best director and Phil Murray, as the waiter, for best supporting actor. One of our younger members Ellie Hamer was also nominated for an award for a performance with Ashton Heyes. The ceremony was on Wednesday night and I am delighted to report Phil Murray was one of the winners. Malcolm would be the first to acknowledge these nominations were a recognition of a superb group effort so I think everyone involved in the production can bask in the reflected glory. A massive well done to everyone.

Good Old Days (Aug 21 and 22) Postponed

This was a new venture, proposed by JoJo Gleave,  but we have sadly had to be postpone it  due to holiday clashes. A number of people had expressed an interest in taking part but the time of year meant she could not drum up enough support. However this is merely a postponement and there are plans to stage an event of this nature in the future.

Summer theatre outing – Wed 5th August

Everyone is invited to join us on a trip to the wonderful Chester open air Shakespeare season in Grosvenor Park. On Wed 5th August, 7.30pm, people are invited to book their own seats for the production of Romeo and Juliet. Seats are unreserved so everyone can book individually and include friends and family if they wish too. Covered terrace seats are £27.50 and uncovered terraced seats £22.50. We plan to arrive half an hour early for a little picnic! Just send me an email if you plan to come and we will all try and sit together. Email lynn.pegler@btopenworld.com. Romeo and Juliet is one of the plays being featured in Ed Green’s wonderfully innovative Bite-sized Shakespeare production in October so it will be great to see the professionals performing the same scenes. Hope you can join us.

Tickets are limited so early booking advised. Online www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk. Box office 0845 241 7868.

Oh What a Lovely War reprise (Saturday 12th September, Norley Village Hall)

We have been asked to give a shortened version of our recent Oh What a Lovely War performance at Norley Village on Saturday 12th September.

The Norley Wildlife Group have produced a ‘Norley Wildflower Memorial Walk’ with plaques and lots of flowers to commemorate a dozen men from the village who lost their lives in World War One. They are organising a fund raising concert to raise money to buy seeds and have asked for our help. I will send a separate email about this but please put the date in your diary.

May production 2016 – Director needed

We are currently planning production schedules for 2016 and have a vacancy for a director for our May play. Are there any actors out there who would like to turn their hand to directing? Lots of support would be given. We even have a play up our sleeve if you don’t have one. A play reading of the Oscar Wilde play Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime proved very popular and several people said they would like to see this staged. If you are interested in directing the May play, please do give me a ring to discuss (with no obligation!). Tel 01928 789042.

Box Office

I am delighted to report that Neil Silcock has kindly offered to take over the running of the box office. Vony Gwillim has also kindly offered to provide a back up service, if required.

Bite-sized Shakespeare – a Cabaret ( 21-24 October 2015)

Director Ed Green has come up with a wonderfully inventive script for our first foray into Shakespeare. He has now cast the production and rehearsals are due to start at the end of August.

Oliver (27-30 January 2016)

I will be directing our production of Oliver in January. I plan to hold auditions in October. Details to follow shortly.

Lynn Pegler
Chair, Kingsley Players