Drama

Drama

It is a concerning and uncertain time at present. You would know that many restrictions and guidance have been given to the community to attend to the Coronavirus spread. It therefore gives me great sadness to inform you that our production of Ladies in Black is cancelled.

Unfortunately, the motto of “the show must go on” cannot apply to this scenario. We are very proud of the work achieved in the short time we had to construct the show. Ladies in Black was the first production for many of the cast. There will be many more production opportunities in the future and time to explore a passion for singing, dancing and acting.

We don’t know how long this period of uncertainty will last, but if there is anyway, at the end of it, that we can share the work created, we will certainly pursue that. Our November production of Pretty.Strange is still on our calendar.

Thank you to the girls for the dedication employed for this production. I hope it one day might become a part of your happy memories, though I’m sure disappointment clouds that at present.

I found the post below recently on Facebook. It helped me to feel a bit better about the current state of theatre.

In theatre we have a tradition – whenever the theatre is empty we are always sure to leave one light on. Typically on a stand in the centre of the stage, this light is known as the ghost light. There are many stories about its origin – but it’s meaning is unmistakable.

It means though the theatre is empty, WE WILL RETURN. So here’s to us. The actors, the technicians, the directors, the carpenters, the designers, the dancers, the teachers, the students, the freelancers, those on tour, those at sea, the electricians, the stitchers, the makers, the stage managers…. THE ARTISTS.

The ghost lights are temporary place holders. They are a sign. We might be down now – but our passion, our creativity, our drive is still centre stage. We’ll be unplugging those ghost lights in no time.

The theatre is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed. It requires tough and devoted people to keep it alive.
John Steinbeck

 

Peter Eyers
Head of Drama