boardtreader
april 2014
Shinfield Players’ Theatre’s mission is to provide a venue for creating and experiencing
theatre in all its forms. We aim to continue to train and develop our membership, so that
everyone may enjoy socialising, working together and participating in theatre.
We are extremely fortunate to have our own building to allow us to accomplish this. By
providing this public social and entertainment centre, we are able to fund Shinfield Players by
producing public dramatic performances.
From the editor: This month we have a review of Steel Magnolias and a report
from the Senior Youth Group about their recent visit to Prague. Don’t forget to book
your tickets for the very funny musical farce Act Your Age (see below) which is on at
the theatre in a few weeks’ time. Gill Sharp
Act Your Age
25, 26 April & 1, 2, 3 May
7.45
BOX OFFICE: 0118 9758880
http://shinfieldplayerstheatre.ticketsource.co.uk
Rehearsals are in full swing and going well. Most of the music has
been committed to memory, thanks to Nick and Caroline, and we have started
upon Sue's dance routines. I have been busy blocking (If that's what you call
organising chaos in a farce). It is all coming together and will be a very
entertaining show, so book your tickets to ensure you get a good seat. We will
be recording the show and DVDs will be available to cast, members and the
public. They will be more expensive this time due to the recording licence we
have had to buy. Carol
REPORT FROM PRAGUE
On 6 February, sixteen teenagers and five adults from Shinfield Players’ Theatre Youth
Group (SPUDS) travelled to Prague to take part in the Class in Action festival. As always, we
had great fun meeting people from all over Europe, making friends and participating in a
drama workshop with them.
We got to see a lot of the beautiful city, including Prague Castle. Luckily, it wasn’t too cold
this year! On one evening, we had a party in a tram with the other groups, which was
certainly an interesting and unique experience. We also went to see an excellent
performance of black light theatre, which Prague is famous for. This inspired us with its
brilliant use of gesture and body language to convey meaning, which was useful for our
performances to a non-native speaking audience.
The performances themselves gave us a much greater challenge than ever before as this
year, due to sheer numbers of people attending from SPUDS, we presented two pieces: a
girls’ piece and a boys’ piece. These two pieces were linked, showing the stories of a bride
and groom travelling to their wedding as the theme was ‘Journey’. The performances were a
lot of fun to put on, particularly as the atmosphere at the theatre was so positive.
The standard of pieces from the other eight groups was excellent and varied. There were
comedy, drama and musical pieces, all on the themes of ‘God’ or ‘Journey’. We came away
from the competition with an award for each group: Best Supporting Actor for Josh
Lockwood in the boys’ group and Best Actress for Miranda Lane in the girls’.
Overall, I would say Class in Action 2014 was a great challenge and a great experience from
which we all learnt a lot.
Sarah Lockwood, 17
This was my first year visiting Prague and I am already counting down the days to the next
trip! Prague is a beautiful city and we managed to tour around a huge amount of sites thanks
to our lovely tour guide, Eva. Watching all of the other groups’ performances was very
entertaining and of course we all cheered loudly for the other SPT group!! We ended the trip
successfully - taking home achievements of Best Actress (Miranda) and Best Supporting
Actor (Josh). I really can't wait for next year!
Ellie Zelisko, 16
Coffee Morning/Car Wash
The Junior and Middle Youth Groups are holding a Coffee Morning and Car
Wash at the theatre on 26 April between 11.00am – 2.00pm. The idea is to raise
some extra money to help to pay for costumes etc for their summer production “Two Classics – Copperfield and Alice in Wonderland”.
Please support them by bringing your car to be washed (for a donation). You can
enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and a cake in the foyer while you wait!
REVIEW
It is a remarkable achievement to be able to make an
audience laugh and move them to tears within a
single performance – but this is what happened
during the recent production of Steel Magnolias.
The six actresses coped brilliantly with the demands
of the script and the audience was soon laughing as the women gossiped while
having their hair and nails done. The deep-south American accents were convincing
and we were soon drawn into the lives of these women.
As the play progressed, some darker themes began to emerge. Annelle (Tasha
Marks) was coping with a marriage break-up whilst Shelby (Millie Naylor) had an
illness that made having a baby dangerous. The women bitched and bickered - but
were always there to support one another whenever one of them had a crisis to deal
with.
The cast worked so well together that we became completely caught up in the
action. When tragedy finally struck (and Shelby died), it was utterly convincing and
you could hear a pin drop in the theatre. Heidi Ashton, as the grief-stricken mother
M’Lynn, struck exactly the right note with her understated performance that came
across as very truthful, and the reactions of the other women complemented this.
Although the play is set in 1980’s Louisiana, we were all able to identify with the
emotions that were portrayed and the play left a lasting impression on the audience.
Well done to everyone involved in the production! Gill Sharp
AROUND THE THEATRE...................WITH ADAM AND EVE
Good Day to 'e all. Well, spring has sprung and we do so hope you
remembered to put your clocks forward last Sunday.
The front garden is looking good. Sitting on the bench admiring the
beautiful blossom on the cherry tree, we noticed that there were a group of long tailed tits also
enjoying the sunny morning in its branches. We have lots of daffodils, snowdrops, cowslips and
pansies as well as the fine row of begonias that Barrie and Jean donated a couple of years ago.
Some of the perennials we planted last year that have survived the wet winter include bellis and
cosmos. We also think the sunflowers may have self seeded.
We hope to cut the lawn shortly and have plans for patching up the car park perimeter
with the stone we purchased last year.
Mushy, the theatre cat, is in good condition and has been socialising with the
neighbourhood felines. Apart from sharing her food, we are not too concerned as she was
neutered by the Cats Protection League before she returned to the theatre a few years ago. Well,
must go and put the kettle on. See you all next month.
‘BRICK’ WANTED!
Phil Duquenoy is looking for an old-fashioned mobile phone (known affectionately as a
‘brick’!) Has anyone got one tucked away in a cupboard somewhere? If you have one,
please let Phil know on philippe.duquenoy@btinternet.com
Coffee Mornings
These take place every first Thursday in the month from 9:30 till 12:30
and are a chance to sit and chat over a cup of tea/coffee and a croissant,
so please find a moment to drop in.
chairman’s postscript
 I was delighted with the performance of Steel Magnolias and the box office
receipts. Well done to all involved.
 Thank you to Martin Butler for the contact at Mango in the Oracle which has
donated surplus items to the theatre.
 Very pleased that the League of Friends of Reading Hospital made their
annual appearance, raising funds for their charity. Thanks to Robert Billing for
covering the technical side.
 I would also like to publicly thank Cara Broadhurst, who has stood down from
the Committee, for all her very hard work in committee and say that I very
much appreciate her good works.
 Lastly, on a sadder note, I was recently made aware of the passing of Frank
Terry, a local theatre critic and supporter of theatre in this area. My
sympathies are extended to Jean.
DEADLINE FOR NEXT BT – 25/04/14. Please email items to:
shinfieldboardtreader@hotmail.co.uk