Welcome to our March 2025 Newsletter
Having collectively taken a break following another sellout, successful pantomime run in January, we have turned our attention to our summer production.
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day – it will be a show of songs, sketches and reflections from and about that time.
Come and join with us we laugh, cry and reflect on the second world war and the final victory in Europe.
From Chamberlains declaration of War to Churchill’s announcement of victory, we will take you on that journey through the mediums of drama, song, sketches, poetry, and more.
The first act will be a play set in an East End air-raid shelter – waiting for the “all clear”, this is a slice of life – funny at times but also living with fear and foreboding.
The second act will be more in a variety format, featuring the most popular comedy of the time – Tommy Handley’s ITMA, the songs of Flanagan and Allen, The Andrews Sisters, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn and others. Plus sketches and reflections of that period.
We pay our respects to those who fought, those who died and those who stayed behind. To the evacuated children, to those sheltering during the Blitz and so much more.
Looking forward to next year
Our pantomime in 2026 will be a special one to mark 50 years since our first – Cinderella in 1976.
Here is a link to our pantomime archive
Pantomimes 1976 to 2025 – Loddon Players
Our Pantomime Treasure Island has now been nominated for the Best Panto award for 2024. The award ceremony will be held in May.
Fund-raising
On the 5th April, at the Hollies in Loddon High Street, we are holding a charity quiz night in aid of World Cancer Research.
7.15pm for 7.30pm
Teams max 6 people
Just Giving for donations here
Tickets £7.50
Cash prizes
Funky Feet School of Dance & Performing Arts have been forced to find new premises and have moved a new location at Langley School.
They have to raise at least £10,000 to cover the cost of a new dance floor. There is a crowd funding page which we are very pleased to support.
As mentioned earlier we are also making them one of our nominated good causes.
Latest PANTOMIME
The Pied Piper
Written and produced by Steve Burton, directed by Jackie Bingham, with musical direction from Alan Cant and choreography for the Funky Feet dancers by Miss Vicky Codling.
Here are a few more images:
More details including reviews and lots of photos from the production
The Role of The Dame
The role of the dame is a long-standing tradition in British pantomime, with male actors playing comedic, larger than life, female roles.
In some pantomimes such roles, for example, as Mother Goose in the panto of the same name or Widow Twanky in Aladdin, the dame is a pivotal character.
Dames are known for their over-the-top costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, often featuring bright colors and clownish elements.
The dame’s primary role is to be a warm, matronly character or occasionally an antagonist, but always with the aim of engaging the audience and encouraging their participation.
The origins of the dame can be traced back to the early days of theatre, when women were not allowed to act, and men had to play all the roles, including female characters.
The character of the dame is a cornerstone of Loddon Players pantomimes. The first to fill that role was Derek Loyd, who played it twenty times. Since then there have been a further seven including our current dame played by Anthony Bunting – his sixteenth time came in our last panto, The Pied Piper. Long may he continue.
In The Pied Piper, the dames role was a traditional one, interacting with the audience, engaging in the slapstick scenes and finally enlisting the Pied Piper to rid the town of the rats and the deceitful arrogant Mayor.
Maureen Larkin, in her latest Maureen’s Moment shares her thoughts on working alongside Anthony for many years. The chemistry that they had on stage and what talents he brings to the role.
Last Summer Show
Spotlight Express - 28 & 29 June 2024
This was our second successive foray into the Variety genre following our well received production in 2023.
Spotlight Express was in two Acts.
Act One – an hilarious play called “The Last Bread Pudding”
Act Two was a variety show packed full of music, dance and comedic skits, some familiar, some new ones.
The show was extremely well received by the packed audiences.
Local Theatre
Theatre Royal
The Maddermarket Theatre
Whats on
Lowestoft
Wisbech - The Secret Garden
Gorleston Pavillion
NODA
The National Scene
Loddon Players have been members of NODA for many years. We get support for many issues including legal and welfare matters.
NODA nationally run events such as summer schools and training workshops.
NODA in the EAST
NODA has a regional structure and we fall into that area in NODA East Region. (5 and 6 now combined)
Our representatives normally visit us to watch and report on our performances – here is their report for Mother Goose which has just won their Best Panto Award 2023!
Their latest review is of Treasure Island 2024
This has now been nominated for Best Panto Award 2024! Announcement will be in May.
Here is their recently published review of The Pied Piper on our web page
Maureen's Moments
Previous productions & players
Our oldest and most celebrated active member – Maureen Larkin reflects on her many pantomime roles along side our current dame – Anthony Bunting –
This time I want to pay tribute to Anth, who has been a stalwart for our Pantomimes for so many years.
Anth’s mum and I grew up alongside each other at The Walks in Loddon…we were playmates, and on the many occasions that I have stood beside Anth on the stage, I can picture his Mum ,due to his likeness to her. I imagine how very proud Ann would be of him,if only she could have lived long enough watch him in Panto.
I have known Anth from when he was very young, he went to school with my children. He always came to their birthday parties and was so well behaved. Once, when they were playing pass the parcel and one of the young girls won the prize, Anth said “I’m glad Lynn won, as she is a really nice girl”. He was always pleased for others .
Anth has always been a joy to work with on stage. It has been a privilege for me to have been his sidekick for so many years.
He is a very unselfish person to act alongside and never tries to steal the limelight. I have always felt comfortable working with him, and we have had so many laughs.
We both enjoyed ad libbing when the occasion arose, but we always made sure we gave the correct cue to whoever might be up there with us.
Anth’s talents are endless and he is such a natural in the role of the Dame.
He has the good fortune to know so many people within our community, through working at Bridge Stores, and he draws the crowds to our Pantos through his popularity with them all.
I miss being up on the stage with him now, but I enjoy watching him from the audience, as he has them in the palm of his hand.
I firmly believe that he could have been a professional Dame, but I am glad that he is “our” Dame.
I love him lots.
Here is a link to the last Panto that Maureen appeared with Anthony as Dame
Latest News
Recent activities of our dancers and performers
Some pictures from The Pied Piper
How to join
Classes – Timetable
Announcements
We need to raise £10,000 as we have been forced to find a new home at Langley School.
Please support our crowd fundraiser
After years of fund raising and getting the dance school to a great centre for performing arts, we are now sadly having to start again. When we took over the industrial unit everything we had raised previously was put into making the space into what we have today. 3 dance studios, a reception room, waiting room and toilets. The dance studio also doubles up as a performance space which has become pivotal in raising extra funds. It is not possible for us to take up our flooring and move it to Langley School, and we will be without as much storage room for all of our costumes/ props and scenery, so will need to fund raise again, we will be looking at around £10,000 just to lay new flooring appropriate to dance on. The storage spaces we have been looking at are out of the budget we have so we may have to look at reducing what we hold which will impact the children as they will now have to purchase costumes rather than hire them and many local schools that we provide with costumes for their productions.
Upcoming Events
Over the coming months our Social Secretary Sam Bailey will be organising various events. Most will be open to members and their accompanying partners and some will be open for younger family members as well. (see note below).
We will be holding regular monthly social meets ups around the area.
All current members will receive an email each month with a link to the newsletter. It will also be available to read on our website.
April 2025
As mentioned earlier, there is a Charity Quiz Night on 5th April at the Hollies.
For more information and to book tickets
A party of members and family are going to see our own Jody-Michelle Chapman and her daughter Lemany perform at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th April.
Sam organised a bowling evening at Richardson’s in Lowestoft on 15th March. Great fun was had by all.
Social Diary