Welcome to our June 2024 on line Newsletter
Less than 20 tickets left for either Spotlight Express performances
“A fast-paced showcase of talent, where an hilarious one act play meets musical interludes and comedic skits”
Performances 28th & 29th June
Produced by Steve Burton – and directed by Jackie Bingham
or
call our telephone booking office 0333 666 3366 – Monday to Friday 9.00am to 7.00pm and Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Chet Valley Summer Fair 6th July
We will be having a stall at the fair. Please come and say hello. To members, if you would like to help on the day, please email [email protected]
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 will be announced in due course via our newsletter, website, social media and word of mouth!
Social Event Roundup
We met for drinks and chat at the Angel, Loddon. It was a great opportunity to catch up.
A big thank you to Sam for organising it!
Latest show
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
Musical Direction
Our Musical Director Alan Cant makes a massive contribution to our pantomines.
Apart from playing the keyboards including generating sound effects, he helps us pick the music and “Loddonise” the lyrics so that they fit the characters and the production.
Whilst everything is rehearsed down to the finest detail, having Alan being able to respond spontaneously to things that happen in the performance makes such a huge difference.
We are greatly indebted to him for everything he brings to our productions!
Current Show
Spotlight Express - 28 & 29 June 2024
Building on the success of last years Variety Show, we return to variety again this year. Compered again by Maureen Larkin and Anthony Bunting.
Spotlight Express is in two Acts.
Act One is 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?
(The play contains moderate adult language, that may not be suitable for children under 16).
Act Two is a variety show packed full of music, dance and comedic skits, some familiar, some new ones.
There are less than 20 tickets left for each production.
£10 for Adults (16 or over)
£5 for Children (Under 16)
Local Theatre
Theatre Royal
including
101 Dalmations – The Musical – 9th – 13th July – Tickets here
Silence! – The Musical – 24th – 27th July – 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
Previous productions & players
Our oldest and most celebrated active member – Maureen Larkin briefly looks back at one of her favourite pantomimes performed at The Lecture Hall, George Lane.
Panto 2000 – January 2000
“Based on an idea by Jennie Futter, produced by Ann Turner, it was a compilation of scenes from previous pantomimes.
I was so delighted to team up with Derek Loyd.
Derek and I appeared togther in the second ever pantomine in 1977 and we played alongside one another for many more before Derek “retired”. It was so lovely to be together again for one last time!
We reenacted one of our most notable scenes, he playing forest warden Cyril Clump teaching myself and Melvin Frankland about woodland ways and species!
The script was based around four favourite pantos – Cinderella, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, and Robinson Crusoe – linked togther to produce a show of great colour and laughter!
Here is our archive page for
Latest News
Recent activities of our dancers and performers
How to join
Classes – Timetable
Announcements
We are proud to say that Funky Feet students are all working hard in classe.
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.
Due to our current production there will be social events involving cast, crew, and front of house. In view of that our next stand alone event will be in August. See our July Newsletter for the details!
Email us below if you are likely to attend this meet up event.
(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