Newsletter March 2011

“BILLY LIAR” 15^TH-19^TH MARCH

The main news this month is of the imminent opening of our Spring production “Billy Liar”. Tickets are already sold out on some nights, so phone Bob, soon, on 01606 45186 to book. Billy Liar’ is a comedy with a strong underlying dramatic theme. A young man, Billy Fisher fights to escape his stolid, complacent and cliché-ridden background using his fanciful imagination. Billy began life in Keith Waterhouse’s eponymous novel. The book made such an impact that the film rights were immediately sold, starring Tom Courtenay as Billy, Wilfred Pickles and Mona Washbourne as Billy’s father and mother and Julie Christie as Liz. Rodney Bewes and Leonard Rossiter played the parts of Arthur and Shadrack respectively.

Only two weeks after the film opened, Keith Waterhouse received a telephone call from an old school chum, Willis Hall, with whom he had originally collaborated as a teenager on sketches for a youth club concert. Hall quickly convinced Waterhouse that the book would make a marvellous play and within three weeks they had completed the adaptation of the 190 page novel into a 75 page play script with composite settings. The play opened at the Cambridge theatre, London starring Albert Finney as Billy and Trevor Bannister (later Mr Lucas in ‘Are You Being Served’) as Arthur.

BECKY LITTLE – “TURNED OUT NICE AGAIN”

Anyone who has seen local actress Becky Little’s “Little Pixie Productions” before will look forward to seeing one of her most recent shows “Turned Out Nice Again”. Grab your bucket and spade! Join Granny Flo and Ruby once again on their 2nd adventure together. With Flo's collection of old postcards, shells and fossils, they are transported back to 1938 for a seaside extravaganza with dance, original songs, slapstick and candy floss! A Family show for all ages 3 - 103! Winner of ‘Best Show for Families’ Award at Buxton Festival Fringe 2010. At the Players Theatre Wednesday 30th March 2011 6.30 - 7.30pm (doors open 6pm)
£5 Adults, £4.50 Concessions, £4 Children (under 16) Tickets available at L.J.Little, 99 Chester Rd, CW8 1HH or to reserve call 07932 941576 www.littlepixieproductions.co.uk

DAN JAZZ EVENINGS

Fans of the Jazz evenings promoted by DAN should make sure they come along to what may be the last ever concert in the current format. Unfortunately, the grants that have facilitated this music in previous years have dried up and so DAN’s ability to showcase this type of event is going to be limited from the end of this month. So, see you at the ‘last’ jazz at the Players on the last day of March.

CLUB NIGHTS

..are restarting after the March production. First on the list on Thursday 24^th March at 8pm is a talk by Maggie Tippin on her career experiences as a professional stage manager. That reminds me; subscriptions run by calendar year and are due in January. If you have not yet paid your £15.00, please send to: - Paulette Anderson, 24 Queensgate, Castle. Northwich CW8 1DX. Cheques payable to: ‘Davenham & Sandiway Players’.

THEATRE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Here are some good reasons why you should come and see events at the Players Theatre, where we have been busy making things better for audiences and members. We have more projects in mind which you can help us achieve by coming to events at Davenham. But this is what we have done already in the last few months:

• COMFY SEATING - Our audiences will be pleased to hear that, after many years, the committee has taken the decision to replace the seating. Visitors to the theatre will be pleased to see rows of smart new chairs with cushioned grey upholstery. We hope you will find these so comfortable you will come back for more! CAN ANYONE USE ABOUT 70 MOULDED PLASTIC CHAIRS? IF SO CONTACT US.
• DEEP INSULATION - A full layer of rockwool loft insulation to modern standards has been laid over all the loft area over the auditorium and first-floor rooms. We hope that this will make it quicker to heat the auditorium and aid heat retention.
• SUPER SOUND - The auditorium loudspeakers were recently found to be blown and had to be replaced. Two large replacement units capable of handling the output of our powerful amplifier have been purchased which will enhance the ‘audience audio-visual experience’ (so our sound man says!).
• GREEN ROOM NOW THE CREAM ROOM ! - The floor and walls in the Green Room (through the door to the right of stage from the audience perspective) has been giving us trouble arising from damp. We have replaced a rotten section of the floor and repointed the exterior to remedy the damp problem and also repainted the interior.

  

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday 15^th March 7:30pm - “Billy Liar” opening night.

Saturday 19^th March 7:30pm - “Billy Liar” closing night.

Thursday 24^th March 8:00pm - Club Night - a talk by Maggie Tippin on her experiences as a stage manager in the professional theatre

Wednesday 30^th March 6:30pm doors open 6pm - “Turned Out Nice Again” an award-winning one hour family entertainment by Little Pixie Productions. Tickets £5/£4.50/£4 from LJ Little, 99 Chester Road, Castle or phone 07932 941576. www.littlepixieproductions.co.uk

Thursday 31^st March 8:00pm - DAN Jazz DB5 with Orli Nyles. Andy Scott (saxes), John Barber (trombone) Ulrich Elbracht (guitar), Ollie Collins (bass), Dave Hassell (drums), Orli Nyles (vocals and keyboard). Tickets and details from the DAN office 01606 41597

Wednesday 20^th April 7:30pm - A charity fundraiser for St Luke’s Hospice at which Adrian Sumner repeats a talk given last year to celebrate his 60^th year entitled “My 60 favourite Works of Art”. Tickets £4.00 including glass of wine from Caroline Stevens on 01606 42920