Welcome to our August 2024 on line Newsletter
Our oldest active member Maureen Larkin and her husband Michael celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 8th August. We offer them both our love and best wishes for reaching that milestone with many more years of happiness to come.
See the section Maureen’s Moments
AGM – 4th September
This will be held at the Lecture Hall at 7.30pm.
There will be proposals tabled to formalise membership arrangements. Further information will be sent out in advance. Please can we encourage all members to attend?
Panto 2025
Our next pantomime in January 2025 will be The Pied Piper.
Produced and written by Steve Burton and directed by Jackie Bingham. Get ready for jokes about huge suspicious-looking sausages and plenty of rodents!
Audition dates (Lecture Hall 7.30pm)
Mon 16th September – First reading
Tues 17th September – Audition
Mon 23rd September – Audition
Spotlight Express 28th & 29th June
Produced by Steve Burton – and directed by Jackie Bingham
Performances were very well received.
Here is our review
Latest PANTOMIME
Treasure Island Panto 24
Written and produced by Steve Burton, directed by Jackie Bingham, with musical direction from Alan Cant and choreography for Funky Feet dancers by Miss Vicky Codling.
Here are a few more images:
More details including reviews and lots of photos from the production
Director
Jackie Bingham is our current Director. Treasure Island is the eleventh Pantomime she has directed (incl one as co-director) stretching back to 2010.
The Director is responsible for how the production is presented on stage.
That means directing the performers including dancers, singers, stage management, light and sound.
The Producer reporting to the Production Commitee has overall responsibility for the whole production – oversight of the creative direction, costs, scheduling, publicity, press liason etc.
What the audience see and hear from the cast and crew is the day to day responsibility of The Director.
The Director (in conjunction with the Producer and Choreographer) will hold auditions, select cast (including dancers).
They give Directoral approval to the dancing numbers, and working with the Musical Director, the musical numbers.
The Director (reporting to the Producer) also has overall responsibilty for deciding on set design and construction, costumes, make up, stage direction/management, and lighting and sound.
Jackie has been involved in most productions since 1999, first as a performer, then as scenery and set designer, make up, stage manager and finally Director. All of her experence in these indivdual areas has led to her current role.
Current Show
Spotlight Express - 28 & 29 June 2024
Building on the success of last years Variety Show, we returned to variety again this year. Compered again by Maureen Larkin and Anthony Bunting. (Jackie Bingham stepped in on 29th).
Spotlight Express was in two Acts.
Act One – an hilarious play called “The Last Bread Pudding”. Written by Nick Warburton
The committee of an amateur dramatic group are meeting to discuss a new play written by one of its members. What could possibly go wrong?
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.
We were also able to make a collection for hospice care on the nights amounting to £68. We will be donating that plus more to Priscilla Bacon Lodge.
Local Theatre
Theatre Royal
including
Murder on the Orient Express – 17th to 21st September Tickets here
The Maddermarket Theatre
Whats on
Lowestoft
Wisbech - The Secret Garden
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 6.
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
Maureen's Moments
Diamond Wedding Anniversary
Maureen and Michael Larkin!
Our oldest active member Maureen Larkin and her husband Michael celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary on 8th August.
Maureen and Michael have three children, Ian, Andrew and Michelle, and all of them have been involved in Loddon Players productions over the years.
Maureen started in Panto in 1977 – the second ever production – Dick Whittington. Daughter Michelle also had a part of a villager.
The next pantomine – Sleeping Beauty in 1978 she played alongside Michael and son Ian who both had leading roles. Michelle was also in the chorus and son Andrew was part of the scenery painting crew and also designed the programme.
Michael, Ian and Michelle continued to join Maureen up to and including Babes in Wonderland in 1982 when Michael decided to hang up his ukulele and Ian moved on with his eventually to become a professional musician and entertainer.
Michael, Michelle and Andrew were still from time to time involved behind the scenes. Andrew still designs our pantomime posters.
From her role as a maid in 1977, Maureen soon settled into her regular role as the Dame’s sidekick. First alongside the comedically talented Derek Loyd for many years and then primarily with our current incumbant, the wonderful Anthony (Titch) Bunting. Her final major panto role was in Pinocchio in 2017, although there was a cameo performance in Aladdin in 2018. She has continued through online lockdown appearances and with Anthony, she compered our last two Variety Shows.
Maureen, also with Anthony, gives talks to local people about the history of Loddon Players and the shows they have been in together.
Maureen, Michael and their wonderful family are loved and cherished by members past and present of Loddon Players – as they are in the wider community.
We wish Maureen and Michael long life and happiness for many more anniversaries together!
Latest News
Recent activities of our dancers and performers
How to join
Classes – Timetable
Announcements
Auditions for a dancing role in Loddon Players next Pantomime – Pied Piper will be held on 14th September at 10.30am
We are delighted to announce that earlier in August our dancers claimed first prize in Beccles Got Talent!
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.
Our social secretary Sam Bailey is taking part in Spotlight Beccles latest production of Murder at Priorswell Manor and a number of members are attending.
Tickets can be booked here:
(Note – if you have received this via an email link, you are on our membership list and are entitled to attend these events).
Social Diary