Welcome to our April 2025 Newsletter
Rehearsals for our next production “Keep Calm and Carry On” – A Celebration of VE Day are now in full swing.
The show will take place at the Lecture Hall on 27th and 28th June.
Tickets will be on sale online here and via our telephone box office on Saturday 17th May at 9.00am
Telephone Box Office number 0333 666 3366
Opening times for telephone bookings
Mon – Fri 9.00am to 7.00pm
Sat – 9.00am to 5.00pm
Sun – Closed
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.
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 held a charity quiz night in aid of World Cancer Research.
We are delighted to confirm that the event raised £2,112.50. Fantastic result!
Funky Feet
Funky Feet School of Dance & Performing Arts have to raise at least £10,000 to cover the cost of a new dance floor following their enforced departure from Chedgrave.
Loddon Players have very recently donated £500 – one of our four main recipients of our profits from our productions.
Funky Feet Competition Team very recently had a fantastic weekend at the Newmarket Dance Competition winning a hatful of awards!
Here is a taster photo
More here #funkyfeet
Tilly Bell needs your help!
The amazing Tilly Bell, who has been part of our panto family for many years as a Funky Feet dancer but also on occasions joining the cast, has sent this message.
We at Loddon Players are so enormously proud of Tilly as of course we are of all the children and young people that take part in our productions.
Tilly says:
Hello all, please could you spare 2 minutes of your time to read this. It is one of the projects I am doing with Nelsonspirit (the people who sponsor my scholarship at Langley Sixth Form).
I have been asked to project manage this show, so I would greatly appreciate it if any of you could buy tickets – and bring any friends/family along too!
‘The essence of Audrey’ is a one woman show about the life of Audrey Hepburn, performed and written by Helen Anker (who has been in the West End, Broadway, TV, and has toured the UK).
She is performing this at the Garage theatre in Norwich on May 12th 2025 (the week before she stars in ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at the Theatre Royal).
As part of the next flagship event, the Future Leaders of Nelsonspirit have been asked to run this (with myself as project manager – as this is great experience for my future in the performing arts industry!).
We will organise marketing/publicity, ticket sales, backstage, front of house, lighting/effects and a Q&A with Helen at the end of the performance.
Therefore, I have been tasked with selling as many tickets as possible; and thought you might be able to help me. I would really appreciate if you could pass this on to anyone else you think may be interested.
You can book tickets on the garage website by following this link:
https://www.thegarage.org.uk/shows/the-essence-of-audrey/
Thanks for reading this, and hope to see you there!
Tilly was on Radio Norfolk (Kayleigh Poacher) promoting it with her team yesterday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002b4bn
Start at: 37.24
Social Events
This last month a party of members and friends had an “away day” trip to see our own, the amazing Jody Michelle Chapman, and her highly talented daughter Lemany (16) in Gorleston Theatre Company’s Juke Box production.
Coming up in May, members will be meeting up at the Swan in Loddon on 16th May for a social get together from 7.15pm.
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 History of Pantomine
2026 will see the 50th anniversary of the first Loddon Players pantomime – Cinderella – performed in January 1976 at what is now Hobart High School. Our Honorary Life President Joan Evans was involved in that first production. (See Maureen’s Moments for more about Joan and her extraordinary time as performer, writer, scenery painter, and producer/director.)
Do you know the history of pantomime?
Pantomime, or “panto” as it’s affectionately known, boasts a vibrant and often surprising history. Its roots lie in the ancient Roman mimes, theatrical performances that incorporated song, dance, and comedic sketches. This tradition evolved through the Italian commedia dell’arte of the 16th century, which introduced stock characters like Harlequin and Columbine, whose antics and romantic pursuits became central to early pantomimes.
The form truly took shape in Britain during the 18th century. John Rich is credited with staging the first recognizable pantomime, blending mythological tales with comedic interludes and spectacular stage effects. These early pantomimes were largely silent, relying on expressive gestures and visual spectacle. Over time, spoken dialogue, songs, and topical satire were incorporated, drawing inspiration from popular fairy tales and nursery rhymes.
The Victorian era witnessed the golden age of pantomime. Grand theatres staged lavish productions with elaborate scenery, dazzling costumes, and large casts. Key figures like Dan Leno, a celebrated music hall comedian, brought a unique brand of physical comedy and witty banter to the Dame character, a tradition that continues today with male actors playing larger-than-life female roles.
The 20th and 21st centuries have seen pantomime adapt and thrive. While retaining core elements like audience participation (“Oh yes it is!”, “Oh no it isn’t!”), slapstick comedy, and the transformation scene, modern pantomimes often incorporate contemporary pop songs, celebrity cameos (on the professional stage), and updated storylines while staying true to their family-friendly appeal.
Pantomime remains a beloved British tradition, a unique blend of theatrical history and contemporary entertainment that continues to enchant audiences of all ages.
For Loddon Players, here’s to another 50 years!
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
including
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – 30th April to 10th May Tickets here
The Maddermarket Theatre
Whats on
Including Gibert & Sullivan’s Princess Ida 7th to 10th May – Tickets here
(Group booking for Loddon Players members 10 or more tickets 70% off)
Lowestoft
Wisbech - The Secret Garden
After their success with Spongebob the Musical at Easter, amongst many events coming up, they are performing
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for Hallowen
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 the huge part played in the success of Loddon Players by our honorary Life President Joan Evans.
Here is what was written in the programme in 1977 – our second pantomime Dick Whittington
In my “moment” this month I would like to pay tribute to our Honorary President Joan Evans.
My friendship with Joan began through pantomime. Up to that time, I just knew Joan as the wife of our local vet. Joan’s daughter Jane and my daughter Michelle were both dancers with the Joan Gisborne Dancing School and took part in the very first Panto”Cinderella” in 1976. Joan painted the scenery.
When I was given the part of Lulu the chambermaid in “Dick Whittington” in 1977, Joan played the part of Alice Fitzwarren. I was so impressed with her singing and acting.
Our friendship grew over the many years of being on stage together. Joan is a lady of many talents. She made costumes, painted scenery as well as being Principal Boy. She also produced/directed and wrote the scripts for so many of the Loddon pantomimes.
She entrusted me with the job of adding some comedy to many of her scripts, and we used to have so many laughs on the afternoons at her house putting the “funnies” into her lovely stories.
“Babes in Wonderland” was Joan’s very own original panto script and it has been performed three times by our group in 1982,1992 and 2003. She was told that she should have had it published professionally. It is a magical tale. Apart from eight of the pantomimes over the almost fifty years that the Loddon panto has been going; up to the time that Steve Burton took over the role of script writer, Joan wrote all the rest of them. She also painted some wonderful scenery.
When Anth (Anthony Bunting) and I do our talks on the history of the Loddon Players, we always share some very funny memories of Joan.
One such memory springs to mind. We had presented the panto one evening in Norwich for the St.Raphael Club. Joan was giving us both a lift home and she decided we could all do with a bag of chips. She parked up and went to get the chips. She returned saying that everybody kept staring at her and she didn’t know why. When we looked at her we saw that she still had all her stage makeup on; her face and hair were both green and silver! She had been playing the part of the Spirit of the Well!
There are so many more funny tales I could tell involving Joan!
Joan was also Producer/Director and cast-member for all the plays that we put on together.
Throughout involvment in Loddon Players productions, she was such a loyal and supportive member. In fact, she was the backbone of its very existence. As our Honorary Life President she continues to give us that loyalty and support.
I am very proud to be able to call her a very special friend.
Here are links to the some of the pantomimes that Maureen mentions!
Latest News
We were hoping to hold a Bingo evening in order to raise funds for our dance floor at Langley School but sadly we have had to cancel it.
The good news is that we are putting all the lovely prizes that have been donated into a raffle that will be drawn at our presentation afternoon in July.
Tickets can be purchased from Funky Feet at Langley or by emailing Jo at [email protected] (£1 a strip of tickets).
If anyone knows of any businesses/people that might donate more prizes, these would be gratefully received. All proceeds will go towards our much needed floor.
Some fantastic news!
The Funky Feet Competition Team had a brilliant weekend at the Newmarket Dance Competition.
There were many medals and trophies awarded to the students.
The Loddon Players Costume Sewing Group ladies received a trophy for the best costume! – (See the bottom photograph in this set!)
This is so well deserved as they work so hard behind the scenes to produce such wonderful costumes!
Here are some photos of the Competition Team in their various costumes:
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.
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.
May and June 2025
We will being having a members (and accompanying family) social evening at the Swan in Loddon on 16th May from 7.15pm.
A party of members and family are going to see our own Sam Bailey in a Spotlight Musical Theatre Group production of Dorothy in Wonderland at Beccles Public Hall and Theatre. Performances are from 13th to 15th June.
Our current production Musical Director – Adam Kellingray-Williamson has taken on that role as well.
We are looking forward to seeing it!
Email Sam at [email protected] if you wish to join our party or you can book tickets directly
Social Diary