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Main Text from Home Page |
| 30/10/11 |
'Blue Haired Ladies sitting on a bench' didn't please many of you. It seems that I was
lucky to miss that one! However, 'Last Night of the Spring Proms', 'Midnight Tango',
'Alarms & Excursions', 'King and I' and 'Pitmen Painters' appealed to many of us in
many different ways. This reminds me - members with access to Facebook could help
the club by reporting on the club page what you thought about a particular show soon
after seeing it. Please feel free – that's what it's been set up for.
Our third programme of 2011 is now published (see the Programme page). Several events were on the
previous programme and some have had their deadlines extended. Again, we are
offering what members have said they want: drama, comedy, musicals, ballet, opera,
classical concerts and other music. It continues to be top notch entertainment
conveniently available through your local theatre and concert club.
We've decided to print the programme and newsletter for everyone to avoid the risk
of these documents being 'lost' in the morass of data on member's computers. This way you get a hard copy reminder which you can keep on the sideboard (or
somewhere else convenient)! We will still be using e-mail and Facebook, for those
members with access to the technology, as reminders when deadlines approach.
November will be a busy month. As well as Legally Blonde on the 9th, the AGM will be
held on the 16th at the Mill Club, Kingsbridge again (details will be sent to you nearer
the time) and a coach load of us are eagerly anticipating our trip to see 'Billy Elliot'
on the 21st November.
As with all clubs, we are always wanting to recruit new members and we would like to
elicit your help. Please mention us to your friends and neighbours, members of
other local clubs etc. whenever possible. Also, we have a club poster for members to
display on official noticeboards (with permission of course!) in your local community.
Please let me know if you would like one.
Most newsletters have an item about coaches and this one is no exception! For the
safety of all members travelling to a show, you are reminded that no one may talk to
the driver when the coach is in motion. This applies to coach monitors too, although
they may need to point out a pick up to the driver.
I hope you have a nice summer and I look forward to seeing you at the theatre in the
autumn.
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| 03/08/11 |
In this, my June 2011
newsletter, I would first like to welcome all new and returning members.
As with all members, please let me know of any shows you would like to
see included in our programme and/or if you would like to help in
aspects of running the club.
Recently we have been treated to a double dose of Shakespeare; National
Theatre's Hamlet and the Propeller's Richard III. The Propeller company
were so innovative, funny, musical and exciting that Jan and I went to
see them do the Comedy of Errors at the Saturday matinee (where we met
other club members doing the same thing). Yes Prime Minister was a hoot
and those that went to Blood Brothers were not disappointed. BRB dazzled
with their Cinderella (I saw it on TV and it was superb). Die Fledermaus
was marvellous too.
I am very excited about this our second 2011 programme (see the
Programme page). There is so much absolutely top notch entertainment on
offer that you will find it hard to decide what not to go to! I
certainly would happily go to it all. We are very lucky having easy
access to these treasure troves offering the highest quality music,
theatre and dancing. I do encourage you to book early – you will
notice that the club deadlines for several events are quite imminent.
Remember that you can cancel a booking at any time before the club
deadline if you need to. Also, even though you have missed a deadline it
is always worth checking with Jo for cancellations if you have belatedly
decided you would like to go to a show.
We have a different type of event on offer which is a tour round
backstage and the set and prop production facility of the Theatre Royal,
Plymouth. The trip will include a light lunch and a talk by theatre
staff. The charge is £20 per person and it covers the coach trip,
tours, talk and a light bite to eat.
The club has booked two West End block busters which are going on tour;
Legally Blonde which is on in November at the Princess Theatre, Torquay
and Sister Act which is on next summer at the Theatre Royal. Legally
Blonde The Musical is on sale in this programme. It won three
Olivier awards this year including Best New Musical – don't miss
out!! Also, the play Pitmen Painters, which was in Plymouth last
year before going to the National Theatre, is back. This highly
acclaimed play was written by Lee Hall, who created the hit musical
Billy Elliot, and is directed by Max Roberts. I have extended the club
deadline to give everyone a chance to book it – don't miss this
either!
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are back at the Great Hall, Exeter
University this coming season and member Eric Brisley has helped us come
up with an excellent winter programme of superb classical music. The
Great Hall has a new reception area and entrance leading from an outside
piazza area.
We still have a few tickets for our London trip on Nov 21/22 when we are
going to see Billy Elliot. If you would prefer to go to another London
show or just go for the trip we can accommodate you. If you are
interested in going please e-mail or call me now. The price is £155 per
person for people sharing a twin or double room. The price includes
transport, Bed & breakfast (Full English) in a four star hotel,
based on a shared room (twin or double) and best available stalls seats
for the evening performance of Billy Elliot. The price without the Billy
Elliot ticket is £129 per person.
You may have noticed some fine looking new 'Charabanc Outings' club
posters round about. This was designed by the husband of one of our
members, Neil White and our thanks go to him for this valuable
contribution to the club. We do need some volunteers to get more posters
up in Modbury, Totnes, Churchstow, AG, Harbertonford and other 'SHTCC
poster-less' places. If anyone is willing to help please let me know.
Thanks to those who have already helped placing them in other villages
and towns in the area.
As with any club of this nature there is a continuous change of
membership – members come and go. It is important for us to try to
keep club subscriptions down by spreading our administration costs down
across as large a number of members as possible. Please try and do your
bit and tell your friends and colleagues about the club. I'll be happy
to hear from them. Every member has a part to play in this - it is after
all a club! When I started as chairman all of our quarterly mailings
were sent by post – since then nearly half of our membership accept
these mailings electronically, almost halving our printing and postage
costs.
A brief reminder that after the club deadline the tickets are yours and
then become your responsibility to sell or to pass on to others if you
are unable to attend.
Finally a couple of points about coaches:
1. The name, land line number and mobile phone number of
the coach monitor for each event will be on the confirmation slip for
each show. You must contact the coach monitor if there is any last
minute change of plan. Coaches will leave at the scheduled time, on the
dot - it's not fair to make coach monitors uncomfortable,
apparently leaving you behind.
2. We have asked Tally Ho for clarification on their policy
regarding their drivers helping passengers on and off coaches. Here is
the response from their managing director; Dear SHTCC, The driver is
there to help our passengers and there is no reason not to give a
helping hand, Yours, Don McIntosh, Tally Ho Coaches Ltd.
I look forward seeing you at the wonderful productions in this programme.
Have a great summer. |
| 30/05/11 |
We now have the first of our programmes in 2011
(see Progrramme page) in which I hope you will find some shows
which appeal to your taste. You can choose from comedies, straight plays, Latin
dancing, classical music, opera and musicals.....and some different venues.
A gentle nudge, but if you have not already renewed your 2011 subscription (still only
£4 a year!) or are not sure if you have already renewed, please contact our treasurer
Anne (tel 842640) to arrange this, otherwise we have to assume your membership
has lapsed. We have had an excellent response to our request for subscription
payments to be made by standing order. This helps us gear up for the future when
banks threaten to do away with cheques as well as reducing the work involved in
membership administration.
We have had an enjoyable time over the winter months despite the snow conditions
forcing the cancellation of BSO's Messiah. The three ballets, Holiday on Ice,
Spamalot, Chess, Lend me a Tenor, Jools Holland, Royal Marines Band and the
National Theatre's production of Hamlet all entertained members of the club.
As promised at the AGM we have booked a production in London's West End – Billy
Elliot. You should have received the special mailing which requires you to send the
special booking form and deposit cheque to me by the 26th March - after this we will
lose our provisional booking of the theatre tickets.
The club has made a £50 donation to the Simon Wellington memorial fund for the
Motor Neurone Disease Association. Simon and his family were a great help to the
club during Dennis Bastin's time as club chairman and before that. Dennis attended
the funeral as the club's representative.
We have set up a 'Facebook presence'. We believe that this is an excellent way of
informing members of new events etc. and for members to give their own feedback.
It makes it easy to share information with production companies, theatres and
concert halls, friends and other members. Of course we realise this is not for
everyone – it's merely another opportunity if you choose to take it.
Another reminder! Coach monitors are valuable and appreciated members of the club
so please don't make their lives difficult by being late for the coach. They are quite
justified in leaving on the dot of the declared departure time.
I hope you are inspired to book up some of the shows in this Spring / Summer season
and I look forward to sharing with you the experience of some of the wonderful
productions we have on offer. |
| 25/03/11 |
We have now issued the fourth and last of our programmes in
2010 (see the Programme page). This time, thanks to the
Theatre Royal, we can please the drama buffs with a super selection of plays; war
stories, ghost stories, who-dunnits, Shakespeare and other classics. We are by no
means ignoring our members' other tastes; we have a musical, an ice show, an opera,
a classical music concert, a choral concert and a ballet in this
programme. Can I point
out that Holiday on Ice, the Strauss Gala Concert and Birmingham Royal Ballet need ordering now – before
Christmas.
You will notice that the 'Order Form' has been replaced by a new 'Booking
Form' with a reverse side for guest details. Please use these forms in future. If you need additional copies please request from me
or download from the Programme page here. Please also note that guest fees have been
increased to £2. If you have not already renewed your subscription for 2011
you should have received a renewal form and a standing order form in
case you choose to use this payment method.
The subs are still only £4 per person per year. Please send all paperwork, cheques, etc
to me for the time being (address on Contact page).
On the subject of memberships I have to report that Mick Salter has decided that it is
now time to relax and pass on his membership secretary duties which I will do for the
time being. The club is indebted to him for his reliable and thorough work in setting up
and maintaining the membership records over the past five years. It has provided
SHTCC with a great platform for us to base our future membership recording plans on.
Thank you very much Mick from everyone in the club. As I reported at the
AGM, 2010 has been a successful year for the club taking 900
people to 35 shows. We have been to two Cinderellas and another is on the near
horizon but all are hugely different from one another. It is worth noting that
Birmingham Royal Ballet's glittering new production of Cinderella will be shown on
Christmas day on BBC2 and BBC HD if you would like a preview. The AGM on 17
November at the Mill Club, Kingsbridge, went very well with many aspects
of the club's progress, finances and future prospects being discussed.
The new Constitution was approved as was the reappointment of the
existing officers. More details later.
|
| 19/12/10 |
We now have the third of our programmes in 2010
(issued late August) and I am sure you will find something of interest. We have all sorts of top flight shows; drama, comedy, ballets, opera,
musicals, classical/choral music, Royal Marines band and boogie woogie! Once again I've booked two shows on the same evening, one in the Theatre Royal
and the other in the Drum Theatre. This arrangement gives a good opportunity to
those who are interested in seeing modern drama in the Drum, as an alternative to
the main event in the Theatre Royal, whilst using the coach provided.
We have cancelled a few shows from the previous programme sadly because of lack of support e.g. Dinner Ladies,
La Traviata, Oct 28 BSO concert and the Great British Country Fête. Some of us went
independently to see the latter show which was brilliantly performed by three young
actors to a packed Drum Theatre...great entertainment about Tesco's coming to a
fictitious village!
The programme is strong on fairy tales this time. We have two Cinderellas (an opera
and a contemporary ballet) and one Sleeping Beauty ballet all performed by
top class companies. However Rossini's La Cenerentola didn't gain enough
support.
|
| 07/09/10 |
The second of four programmes in 2010,
issued 27 June, is slightly different from normal. It is divided into two sections; 'Normal club events' which excludes the Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and 'BSO only'. The 'Normal' programme will operate
with the usual club rules but the 'BSO only' one has special rules as shown on the
relevant programme. View them both on the Programme page.
Unfortunately, although we waited to the last minute, at the time of writing
we
have not received the new Theatre Royal brochure and we had to go to print because of the
early July deadlines. If we do receive notification of any events which should be included in this July to October programme we will inform you
of their inclusion via poster at the Kingsbridge Information Centre, on
this website, by e-mail and via the Gazette.
It's always a juggling act/compromise to meet the dates of the various theatres and
concert halls whilst offering a full and varied programme. Judging by the response in
ticket bookings I think we achieved that with our last programme.
A big thank you to Barbara Booth for performing the 'new member pack' duties for
the club for the past two years. I have now centralised this function and have taken
the function over. Please contact me for any new member enquiries.
As you probably already know there is considerable disruption to traffic going into
Plymouth from our side because of major road improvement works. This will affect us up
to and including October. To allow for this, coaches to Plymouth will need to leave
earlier – how much depends on the circumstances at the time but please carefully
check the coach departure time on the slip which accompanies your tickets.
That's the time the coach will leave!
If you miss the club deadline please don't ask the club to buy more tickets...by
all means ask to go on the waiting list or a new club innovation is to make any
spare coach seats available to members if they wish to buy their own tickets
directly from the theatre. We have agreed that £10 per person return or single
regardless of venue will be applied and coach seats only should be ordered
using the normal order slips.
Newsletters and programmes have been e-mailed to those who are happy to receive
electronic deliveries. Please let us know your e-mail address if you would like this
facility in the future by e-mailing enquiries@shtcclub.co.uk. It is easier and cheaper for
the club too.
On Sunday
29th August 2010 at 3.00pm in the Town Square, Kingsbridge
there will be a FREE
concert -
“TRADITIONS" - by
eleven traditional Devon singers, including regulars from the monthly
Folk Night at the Crabshell Inn, Kingsbridge. Preceded by the City
of Plymouth Pipe Band, parading down Fore Street to the bandstand on
the Town Square. Organised by Brenda Burnside and sponsored by
Kingsbridge Town Council.
We have been advised of a concert you may like to
attend independently of the club. It is a Totnes Festival Concert
by the Torbay Symphony Orchestra who are welcoming Artem Kotov,
a talented young Russian violinist, to play Beethoven's Violin Concerto.
The concert opens with Four Sea Studies by local composer Sam Richards
and concludes with Dvorak`s Symphony No 9 'From The New World'.
Sunday 12th September at the Civic Hall, Totnes. The
concert commences at 7.30pm, doors open at 7.00pm. Tickets are available
from Totnes Tourist Information Centre 01803 863168, TSO Booking Line 01548
810146, online at www.torbaysymphony.org
or purchased at the door.
Ticket prices £10, accompanied children under 16 FREE, students £5.
The Flavel Centre, Dartmouth have been in touch with us and would like us to
consider the inclusion in our programme of some of their productions which we will do
if suitable productions come along. If you you choose to go under your own steam the
Flavel Centre have offered club members discounts of £2 per person (approx.).
News from the Northcott: 'The University of Exeter has agreed to set up a new
company to run the Exeter Northcott. The theatre will go ahead with both the Exeter
Summer Festival events and is planning a winter programme, including a Christmas
show. The Exeter Northcott is currently in administration and was transferred over to
University ownership on 29 May'. The club is not currently contemplating attending
any events at the Northcott.
We will be mounting a membership drive this autumn which will include new posters
being distributed around the area and a feature in the Gazette. Can I also ask
members to do their bit in spreading the word to their friends and colleagues. Please
suggest to them that they visit our web site or to call me for further details. Also any
volunteers who are willing to put up club posters in their neighbourhood halls, etc.
would they please let me know.
Lastly, there are times when a production comes along at short notice which may be
of interest to a particular segment of the membership. We would like to be able to let
the right people know about these events when they occur. To do this we need to add
some additional information to the membership list with, i.e. the preferences of
individuals (partners may not have exactly the same preferences!).
The choices will be: Drama, Comedy, Opera, Ballet, Musicals, Classical Concerts,
Other Concerts. Please complete the form (copy here) and send it in with your bookings.
|
| 09/06/10 |
The special
programme produced in late March has allowed us to take on board some of
the plays from the Theatre Royal's Summer Programme. Included are two
shows at the Drum Theatre; one of them a brand new play from the Royal
Court, London, called The Empire and the other an amateur
production of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce.
Witness
for the Prosecution in Plymouth
is not included in the current programme since it had already been
booked at the Princess Theatre, Torquay, on Sept 14.
The
quarterly schedule of programmes will be shifted back a month and so the
next programme will be issued in late June.
Unfortunately
there have been further problems with the Carrivick Sisters concert and
the SHTC Club has now withdrawn from this event entirely. We
understand that Sherford Village Hall Association may take this on in
November as an entirely independent event.
The Flavel Centre,
Dartmouth
have been in touch with us and would like us to consider the
inclusion in our programme of some of their productions which we
will do when the programme committee meet in June.
However,
if you you choose to go under your own steam the Flavel Centre have
offered club members discounts and certainly they have some interesting
shows coming up, such as Romeo and Juliet on Wednesday 23 Jun 7.30pm
:
Freely adapted and directed by Bill Scott. Performed by
Miracle Theatre Company
To die for…
They had grown up in a violent world. Everyone around them was
blinded by conflict and hatred. Only a fool would sleep with the enemy.
But they are drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Their
passion is a pure, bright, blazing refuge where, for a moment, they
discover a kind of peace. Known for its daring, innovative and
downright funny physical performances, Miracle Theatre Company creates a
totally original world where senses soar and humour is found in
unexpected places – a production to captivate audiences of all ages.
Romeo and Juliet, a story of young love: innocent, intense,
intoxicating – and deadly.
Tickets £12 (SHTCC members £10)
More information via the Links page
Announced
since our current programme was issued is a concert entitled Best of
British by the BBC Concert Orchestra on Sunday 13th June at
the Plymouth Pavilions.
If you can provide your own transport you might like to see the poster
below on this page for details but, if not, you can hear it live on
Radio 3.
We
have received news of a concert The Sounds of Music on Friday 18 June
7.30pm at the Palace Theatre, Palace Avenue, Paignton by the Cascade
Singers. They
are based in Torbay and since their formation in 1998 have raised many
thousands of pounds for local charities. They specialise in
performing light music from musical shows, films, operettas etc. See
poster at the very bottom of this page.
Concert:
“The Sounds of Music” – Favourite songs and choruses from shows
such as “Die Fledermaus”, “The Merry Widow”, “The Desert
Song”, “Showboat”, “Carousel”, “South Pacific”,
“Oklahoma”, “The Sound of Music” and many more.
Tickets: £8.50
(Full Price) £ 7.50 (Concessions – Seniors, Children under 16, Groups
of 10 or more) from the Palace
Theatre Box Office 01803 665800 daily from 10.30 to 5.30 (except
Sundays).
|
| 18/05/10 |
Mr David
Gay, Secretary of the Torbay Symphony Orchestra (TSO), has written to us
(17/05/10) drawing attention to a
series of three talks on contemporary music which are being held in
Totnes over the next few weeks. To see the poster with more information
click here.
The first, titled 'Opening the Door to Contemporary Music' will be given
by the TSO's Music Director, Richard Gonski and takes place on Friday, 21st May at 7.30pm at Bogan House, High Street, Totnes.
(opposite the Civic Hall).
The second talk, on 28th May will be given by composer and improviser
Sam Richards, and the third, on 11th June by the renowned composer and
pianist Frank Denyer.
The talks are promoted by Totnes Music Now! (www.totnesmusicnow.org)
a new organisation set up to provide a platform for contemporary music
following the closure of Dartington College of Arts.
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| 03/03/10 |
2010 subs are due by the end
of March! (£4 per person still) please download the membership renewal
form (click
here) and send with your subscription cheque to our Membership
Secretary.
We will continue to actively
support local amateur groups and have included the TOADS Stage Musical
Company's Singin' in the Rain in the latest programme. Those of us that
went to see the Hot Mikado recently were treated to a brilliant
evening's entertainment in the lovely Palace Theatre in Paignton.
We continue to support the
classical concerts at the University of Plymouth, Sherwell Centre.
We are now offering some
venues we haven't used for a while such as the Corn Exchange in Exeter.
The next KATS production;
Musical World, is being performed on the 23rd to 27th March at
Malborough Village Hall and that tickets are available from the
Kingsbridge Information Centre.
The Carrivick Sisters of
Salcombe will be playing for us for one hour on Friday 11th June at
Sherford Village Hall. The cost is only £5 per person or nothing if you
paid for the previous, postponed event.
Please note the inclusion in
the programme of some exciting West End Musicals; Whistle Down the Wind
and Hair Spray. If you would like seats for Whistle Down the Wind please
book them now!
The AGM, held in December
2009, was well attended and the officers and trustees were appointed.
Since then Dick Lloyd has resigned his offices and Pat Adams has stepped
down as Publicity Officer. Many thanks on behalf of all the members to
Dick & Pat for all their help with the club.
The club's previous chairman,
Dennis Bastin, has agreed to be a club trustee. Eric Brisley has agreed
to join the Programme Committee as the classical music adviser. |
| 13/12/09 |
On
Saturday 5 December at Sherford Village Hall the club’s Annual General
Meeting was held, chaired by our Coordinator Nick Alen. He introduced a
proposed formal Constitution with which to apply to the Charities
Commission for charitable status for the club, thereby making public its
organization and financial affairs. The members approved the proposal
and the following volunteers were duly elected as officers:
Chairman:
Nick Alen
Vice Chairman: Dick Lloyd
Secretary: Jo Farrell
Treasurer: Anne Rainbow
The first three plus Val Burkitt will be the club’s Trustees and Val
will join all four on the Management Committee.
Presentations were made to Jo Farrell, Ticket Secretary, and Mick
Salter, Membership Secretary, in recognition and appreciation of their
long-standing and continuing service to the club. Thanks were expressed
to the rest of the management team and the coach monitors for their
contribution.
The chairman mentioned that we are now including in our programme the
‘Musical World’ production by KATS (Kingsbridge Amateur Theatrical
Society) on Saturday 27 March at 2.30pm in Malborough Village Hall
- £11 including coach. We
also hope to go to a concert by an ex-Marines band on Wednesday 31 March
in Dartmouth.
Then, as we tucked into an excellent buffet lunch, we were treated to a
highly entertaining monologue by Dick Lloyd as a country bumpkin. The
Carrivick Sisters who should have been playing for us were at the BBC
where they have recently been declared runners-up in a nationwide folk
music competition. We are delighted for them. They will come to
entertain us now on Friday 18 June.
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