Welcome to our Summer 2025 edition Newsletter
It’s now over two months since our summer production “Keep Calm & Carry On” took place on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th June at the Lecture Hall George Lane.
The feedback we had from audience who attended during the heatwave on those two nights was very positive.
Those of us who took part were really proud of the show that allowed us to 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.
Thank you once again for your great support.
Here is our web page for more details and images of the production.
Panto 2026
Cinderella has been chosen to be our 50th year pantomime.
For our Producer and script writer Steve Burton, our Director Jackie Bingham, our Musical Director Alan Cant and Choreographer Vicky Codling, there has been plenty of work to do through the summer – planning this next production – Panto 2026.
First read through was on 2nd September.
There was a large turn out of those interested in auditioning. There was spontaneous round of applause from those there towards the quality of the script Steve Burton has produced. There will be strong competition for roles.
Auditions will be held at the Lecture Hall, George Lane on 16th and 22nd September.
Its a fitting way to mark our 50th year returning to the pantomime we started with back in 1976.
Here is a link to our pantomime archive
Nominations and Awards
Our Pantomime Treasure Island was nominated for the Best Panto award for 2024. We did not win this time but as ever we were up against much larger community groups. To be nominated is truly a great achievement coming after we won the award in 2023 with Mother Goose.
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.
Dancing Through Life
Funky Feet School of dance and performing arts take the stage! From the tiniest dancers to seasoned adults, this spectacular show promises an unforgettable adventure through Alice in Wonderland, transporting you into a land of magic and curiosity. The journey continues with dazzling performances inspired by beloved musicals, featuring guest artists from local schools.
Langley School, Alston Centre, Chedgrave,
NR14 6BJ
Saturday 11th October 2025
More Funky Feet information here
Social Events
Jackie and David Bingham held a summer house party for members and families on 12th July 2025.
A good time was had by all. Jackie’s white chocolate & raspberry cheesecake went down a storm and the recipe was in great demand.
We have taken a break from social events during August and September (Video of Pied Piper that we planned to show using Loddon Cinema was cancelled due to poor advanced ticket sales).
In October a party of members are going to see our own Jody-Michelle Chapman & Simon Peck in Spamalot at Gorleston Pavillion.
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 Pantomime Villain
In our 50th year since our first pantomime, we examine here the role of the pantomime villain.
The pantomime villain is a cornerstone of traditional British theatre, embodying mischief, menace, and melodrama in equal measure. Their role is not merely to oppose the hero but to energize the entire performance. With exaggerated gestures, flamboyant costumes, and a voice that often drips with mockery, the villain is designed to be booed, hissed at, and heckled.
The pantomime villain typically represents greed, vanity, or cruelty, often standing in stark contrast to the innocent hero or heroine. Whether it’s the wicked stepmother in Cinderella, Abanazar in Aladdin, or Captain Hook in Peter Pan, these are larger-than-life characters, representing evil—but always with a wink. Their villainy is theatrical, not terrifying, allowing children and adults alike to revel in their downfall without genuine fear.
Despite their sinister intentions, pantomime villains are often the funniest characters on stage. Their over-the-top antics, slapstick failures, and dramatic monologues provide comic relief and ensure that their eventual defeat is both satisfying and hilarious. In this way, they offer a form of catharsis: evil is vanquished, justice prevails, and the audience leaves uplifted.
In essence, the pantomime villain is a theatrical paradox—despised yet adored, feared yet laughed at, and absolutely essential to the magic of pantomime.
In our latest pantomime we had, unusually, two villainous characters – King Rat and Mayor Boris. The two sang the duel song “Anything You Can Do” early in the Act One. Of course the audience knew that King Rat would be defeated by the Pied Piper and they suspected that Mayor Boris who became all the characteristics of a typical panto villain, would be defeated by the hero and his mum, the dame – with help of the minstrel and his magic pipe.
In our next production of Cinderella we will revert to the wicked baroness aided and abetted of course by the tormentors of Cinders, the two ugly sisters. Bring it on!
Summer Show
Keep Calm & Carry On - 27 & 28 June 2025
This year the country celebrated the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.
Devised by Steve Burton, Jackie Bingham with musical accompaniment by our musical director Adam Kellingray-Williamson, Loddon Players delivered an evening of celebration, remembrance and happy reflections in this VE Day 80 Variety Show!
Keep Calm & Carry On was in two Acts.
Act One – Air Raid by Liz Dobson – set in a shelter during the Blitz.
Act Two – A variety show of readings, songs and sketches
The show was extremely well received by the audience.
Local Theatre
Theatre Royal
The Maddermarket Theatre
Whats on
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 won their Best Panto Award 2023!
Their latest review is of Treasure Island 2024
We are very proud to say that this was nominated for Best Panto Award 2024! Although we did not win this time, the competition even to be nominated is fierce and we are up against much larger communities and their theatre groups.
Here is their recently published review of The Pied Piper on our web page
Maureen's Moments
Maureen's Reflections on Joan Evans our Honorary Life President
Joan has just celebrated her 89th year. Our oldest and most celebrated active member – Maureen Larkin is taking a breather again this month.
Here is her piece from our April 2025 Newsletter with some added images from Joan’s time with Loddon 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 Joan has taken part in
Dick Whittington & His Cat 1977
Latest News
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.
Dancing Through Life
Our show for 2025 is Dancing Through Life
From the tiniest dancers to seasoned adults, this spectacular show promises an unforgettable adventure through Alice in Wonderland, transporting you into a land of magic and curiosity. The journey continues with dazzling performances inspired by beloved musicals, featuring guest artists from local schools.
Langley School, Alston Centre, Chedgrave,
NR14 6BJ
Saturday 11th October 2025
Other notable recent events
Here are some photos of the Competition Team in their various costumes:
Upcoming Events
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.
If you wish to take part in members social events please email us at:
Jackie and David Bingham held a summer house party on 12th July from 2.30pm.
A good time was had by all. Jackie’s white chocolate & raspberry cheesecake went down a storm.
Thanks to them for hosting it.
Our social event for September was to be a showing at Loddon Cinema (The Lecture Hall) of the video of Pied Piper – Panto 2025. Unfortunately that was cancelled due to a lack of advanced ticket sales.
In October a number of us are going to see our own Jody-Michelle Chapman and Simon Peck in Spamalot at Gorleston Pavillion.
Social Diary