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AGM
Annual dinner
Coffee morning success
Next Production:
Follow the Fleece
7.30pm Grassington Town HallOriginally written for the Yorkshire folk choir Baccapella, Follow the Fleece tells the story of Dales sheep farming and how Bradford became world famous in the woollen industry. From mediaeval times through the industrial revolution to present day, with historical characters from Shakespeare to Titus Salt, the tale is told through song and narrative.Featuring some familiar songs alongside original material, the flavour of Follow the Fleece is folk music - ‘of the people’ – from Greensleeves to Springsteen. Grassington Players have expanded and added drama to the piece calling upon the talents of the dales theatrical community with a cast of 30+ singers, actors and musicians.
Reviews
The Crucible
Love Letters
NODA review
Pam Booth District 15 2008 Dec
Grassington Players 'Love Letters', produced by Beryl Bamforth was a two hander telling the story of the lives of two people through letters written to each other from childhood to middle age. These were amusing, revealing and at times very moving pieces delivered very convincingly by the two performers. A very well written play that kept the attention of the audience throughout. Although a set was not needed for this production careful attention had been paid to the furniture and props surrounding the actors. Congratulations must go to the two performers who had captured the characters well and interacted superbly together bringing the play to a moving finale. An excellent production well done.
Players on the Road
Laying the Ghost
When you hear that the stage manager had decided to fly out to Florida immediately after the first night, you might be forgiven for thinking that the Grassington Players’ latest production should have been given a wide berth. How wrong you would have been. It is not surprising that word spread around the village like wildfire – “this is a production not to be missed”. The Friday and Saturday performances were sell-outs, with a queue forming for any spare seats.
“Laying the Ghost” by Simon Williams is set in The Yew Tree Retirement Home on the south coast. It is the current home of two elderly actresses, Margot Buchanan, the witty and acerbic ex-wife of the famous actor Sir Leo Buchanan, and Freda Deacon, an eccentric lady with a love of naughty jigsaws and an unusual tendency to talk to ghosts. Things go haywire on the morning of Margot’s 70th birthday, when she receives a variety of unwanted guests and well-wishers.
The whole cast gave excellent performances without any of the upstaging and over-acting which can bedevil amateur productions. Both leads find themselves unexpectedly, and very amusingly, transported “to the other side” during the show. In Sue Clements and Mark Bamforth Grassington was fortunate to have two of the most experienced and talented actors in the area to handle these parts. They gave sparkling performances. Sue claimed this would be her swan song – forget it Sue !!
They were skilfully complemented by their colleagues, with Margaret Wilson providing the golden thread, tying the production together with an understated portrayal of Freda Deacon. Joan Whitaker contributed an overdue and gifted return to the boards, and Mandy Beckwith and Esme Binns were equally accomplished in taxing roles which easily could have become caricatures. As for Andrew Armstrong , suffice it to say his interpretation of an ageing Italian kissogram Superman will remain etched in the audience’s memories for many years.
The backstage and design team provided an excellent setting and helped to reinforce my view that in every department The Grassington Players are enjoying an exciting renaissance after some challenging years. This would not be possible without directors of the calibre of Jane Ellison-Bates whose intelligent interpretation of this very funny script enabled the audience to come away wanting more.
John Anderson
NODA (National Operatic & Dramatic Association) review:-
