Welcome to our July 2024 on line Newsletter
Spotlight Express 28th & 29th June
Produced by Steve Burton – and directed by Jackie Bingham
Performances were very well received.
Here is our review
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)
9th September – First reading
12th September – Audition
16th September – Audition
23rd September – Cast reading
Chet Valley Summer Fair 6th July
Unfortunately the weather intervened and the event was cancelled on the day! As we write this, no new date has been announced.
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
Script Writer
Steve Burton is our current script writer – a role he has undertaken now for many years.
We are very fortunate to have Steve. He writes for a number of amateur dramatics groups – who pay for his scripts.
In keeping with all of our members, he gives his time and output to us free of charge.
Steve is also Producer of our shows and a leading committee member.
The decision to pick a particular show comes out of a discussion at commitee. The commitee may suggest a particular production – for example Mother Goose, and Steve will either already have a script available to “Loddonise” or will undertake to write one. He will also give us details of scripts he has already written that may be suitable – this was the case with our last pantomime – Treasure Island.
The decision to pick The Pied Piper came out of that discussion. He outlined a script he was writing and it was the kind of production the committee wanted to see, so we commissioned him to finish draft script.
Once the draft script is complete, it is then shared with Jackie Bingham, the Director first, followed by the Vicky Codling – who will choreograph Funky Feet dancers and with Alan Cant, our musical director.
The final script is then ready for the first reading in September, followed by auditions and casting.
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
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
Previous productions & players
Our oldest and most celebrated active member – Maureen Larkin briefly looks back at her last pantomime as side kick to Derek Loyd
Mother Goose 1995
Derek appeared as an Ugly Sister in our first Pantomime in 1976. My first role was in the next one as a maid in Dick Whittington.
From that moment Derek and I forged a comedic stage partnership for the next 18 years. He was a brilliant ad-libber and we just had enormous fun together on stage. It was the perfect chemistry.
The 1995 Panto was when Derek retired from the role of Dame.
I remember thanking him for all he had taught me whilst being his sidekick, and he said “I haven’t taught you anything …it comes from your heart” I then said “but what will we do without you?” His reply was “There’s a young man, born here, knows so many of the locals, and he will make an ideal Dame. He’ll be a different Dame to me, but he will be good and you’ll work very well together – Anthony (Bunting) and you!”
Of course, Anth certainly has made the role his own, and he has been great to work with. In
Here is our archive page for
Latest News
Recent activities of our dancers and performers
How to join
Classes – Timetable
Announcements
Here is our summer school programme.
We are delighted to announce that we have won through to the finale of 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.
Sam has organised a mini karaoke night at the Hollies on Friday 2nd August from 7.30pm. Bring a bottle/bottles and those who want to eat, she will organise pizza etc.
(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