Hurst Players present Red Riding Hood panto this festive season

By Anne Hopper

It’s panto time – “O yes, it is”!! Couldn’t resist that, but perhaps I should have, especially this early in the season! Auditions for the adult cast took place in late August – when few people were thinking of entertainment over Christmas and New Year – but the fairly recent change to autumnal temperatures will soon see the recently appointed cast of children joining the grown-ups now busy learning their lines for The Players’ 2023 pantomime - Red Riding Hood.
The youngsters will ease in gently with an hour of rehearsal each week during November, under the skilled tuition of Annette Squire, joining the adult cast for full rehearsals from December onwards.

Meantime, The Players are busy organising the essential backstage team – we are always interested in welcoming people who would like to be involved, but who shy away from actually performing. If that’s you – why not see what the Players can offer you – and if you would like to know more, do get in touch with us. Once again, the Players’ “panto-supremo” Bob Sampson is both writer and director and he will be happy to respond to any enquiries about backstage work – or help with lighting and sounds for those who love fiddling with switches! Please contact him directly at: sampson.bob@gmail.com. Online bookings open on 25th November but if you prefer to buy your tickets personally come along to the Theatre Box Office on the High Street on any Saturday morning from 2nd December from 10am to 1pm. We’ll have up to date information on booking tickets on the Players website: https://hurstplayers.org.uk/ Please get in touch - but beware of the wolf!

Hurst Players bring Treasure Island in pantomime

By Anne Hopper

It’s almost panto time! Not quite yet, but at the end of December and into January 2023, the Hurst Players will present a very homegrown version of the classic tale Treasure Island. Loosely based on the famous novel by Robert Louis Stevenson (actually hanging by a thread!) it will be a traditional panto – a rollicking tale of buccaneers and buried treasure, written by Bob Sampson and directed by Richard Coney.

We’ll have Long John Silver and his band of renegades – a traditional Pantomime Dame – yes, really - and a Fairy Mermaid plus our variation on some of the characters from the book: Squire Trelawney, Billy Bones, Blind Pugh – now renamed Blind Poo - this is a panto! And not forgetting our hero ‘Jim Lad’ Hawkins.

Tickets - £11 for adults £8 for children under 12 will shortly be available online from hurstplayers.org.uk – and from December, in person at the Theatre Box Office on Saturday mornings.

Hurst Players welcomes new Chairman and presents a Christmas Carol to remember

Newly elected Anne Hopper introduces herself to Hurst Life readers

I’ve always been interested in theatre, that’s how Colin and I met straight after secondary school with a shared interest in amateur theatre. I initially wanted to be a professional actress and was accepted for training at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama [as it was then] in Sidcup. Cutting a long story very short, it became very evident just how precarious the theatrical profession was, and still is, when the only job I could get was an administrative post in a local furniture shop earning the princely sum of one pound, nineteen shillings and eleven pence per week. Actually, not a bad wage back in the ‘fifties.Not long after filming the notorious “The War Game” directed by Peter Watkins for the BBC back in 1965 [not shown on the BBC for several years after but now available online] I changed career, not for the last time, and after moving to Cumbria became involved with the BBC’s local radio station as a broadcast journalist where I was lucky enough to be a producer and presenter with them until I retired just before our move south some forty-five years later.

Thank goodness for Hurst Players who welcomed us and allowed me to get involved very directly with every production they’ve staged since then. A company with a history from the 1930’s – nearly as old as me - with its own Theatre! And with enough gumption to set about raising thousands of pounds to refurbish the small but beautifully formed building, turning it into the modern and comfortable place to enjoy all kinds of entertainment that it is now.If you’re like me and can’t resist having a say about everything and anything its inevitable that eventually they call your bluff and ask you to join the Committee. I’ve been a committee member since 2018 and this year was elected Chairman. I’m not sure they quite realise what they’ve done but I shall do my best to encourage more people to come and join the Players, move us gently into the 21st century with the best plays we can be expected to produce and encourage audiences to seek us out, together with our colleagues from the Village Cinema and ensure that the Players Theatre at 147 High Street is where you come to be entertained.

To read the whole article about Anne and her journey into Hurst Players pick up a copy of Hurst Life today and turn to page 12.

Dickens come to Hurst By Anne Hopper
“So far – so good,” [Linda Burton – co-director of “A Christmas Carol”] “Well done us” responded Jan Bell, her co-director, “Now all we have to do is get this show on the road!” Just part of a conversation back in late September. But the practicalities of getting this show “on the road”, or ready for a total of nine performances just before Christmas rather swiftly cleared the heads of all gathered together to decide, and then celebrate completion of casting, after the burning of much midnight oil and several weeks of auditions. For a start there are forty characters in the play, so a root and branch approach was needed, resulting in all being played by a cast of just twenty! For Linda Burton and Jan Bell, no strangers to appearances on stage, this is their first time as Directors: “We’re relishing the challenge. A Christmas is still capable of involving people in a way that some more modern tales don’t – and its now our job to bring it to life for today’s audiences.” A Christmas Carol will run from 9th to 18th December – tickets available from 4th November online at www.hurstplayers.org.uk – and in person at the Theatre Box Office on Saturday mornings to be announced.

Hurst Players' perform pro panto despite restrictions

By Anne Hopper

A direct quotation from a member of Hurstpierpoint Players who’s had some years of experience in traditional pantomime and appeared in many of the company’s more ‘normal’ [whatever that is now!] productions. Robin Hood, directed by Sam Nixon and assisted by Annette Squire, was licensed for presentation on You Tube via our website for fourteen performances from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. The Company was gambling with an unknown variation on a familiar theme despite “a worldwide pandemic, rehearsing on Zoom and recording songs by singing into your ’phone alone in the kitchen!” My source for those comments is Jan Bell who’s been in around 40 shows for the Players in the past 31 years and wasn’t expecting to be able easily to cope with playing one of Robin’s Merry Men, ‘Billinda’ [Bill for short] a character disguised as a man but really a girl in love with Little John and maintaining the Panto tradition of role reversal.

In her post-production report Jan goes on to say, “I would be happy to film a show again – the cast had great fun and if you have a good, well-organised director and production team as good as we did then the filming process should be pretty smooth”. But yes, it was a steep learning curve for all of us and we’ve found the experience very rewarding – knowledge which will no doubt come in useful as we consider whether or not to stay ‘virtual’ for our first production of 2021 now under consideration. We have also been encouraged by positive comments sent to our website: “Have just watched the Panto – great fun – lots of laughs, good singing and clearly a lot of effort put into this virtual production. Now you can all have a rest as …it’s behind you! [sorry, you started it].!” Jason. “Just to say how much we admired the performance and especially the initiative you all showed in the most difficult of circumstances.” Patrick and Mary.

Viewers didn’t have to pay to see the Panto and we’ve been impressed at how so many people took advantage of the opportunity to watch us and to give a donation to help with production expenses. Robin Hood is no longer online but the opportunity to help with expenses still is, and it’s possible to go to the Players website: hurstplayers.org.uk where you’ll find details of PayPal and credit card donating.

It’s so dispiriting to see our unique theatre, so recently refurbished, now standing unused due to the current lockdown. Working online has obviously inspired the new members who’ve joined since the Panto – a warm welcome to you all. We now hope that it won’t be too long before we can stop talking about the next season on Zoom and get down to rehearsing the first production in 2021. Online if necessary but preferably on stage at the freshly minted Players Theatre, 147 High Street. Watch this space!

Hurst's panto WILL go on!

By Anne Hopper, Press and Publicity Officer

The Players are now well into socially distanced rehearsals for a first-ever ‘virtual pantomime’. You may well have spotted members of the cast if you’ve been out and about in the village this month. To comply with the Covid 19 rules during the lockdown, due to end on December 2nd, most of our preparations are taking place outdoors. We have a large cast of 33 local adults and 12 children and true to Panto tradition, Robin will be played by Daisy Swayne.

All are experienced stage actors now learning the new techniques of working for the screen under the direction of Sam Nixon. Not to mention the songs and dances, and it’s fair to say the latter is proving the greater challenge to most of the adult cast with Nurse Nora dispensing more than usual alcohol rubs to the ‘men in tights’.

Tickets will be free and performances will be screened through the Players Website between Christmas Eve and January 1st at 3pm and 7pm.

www.hurstplayers.org.uk

Virtual panto planned by Hurstpierpoint Players

By Anne Hopper, Press and Publicity Officer

In June Hurstpierpoint Players turned their decorating skills from the inside of the Players Theatre to the outside - in July and August they ‘wrapped up’ the building as part of the “Missing Theatre Live” protest to draw the Government’s attention to the plight of all venues of entertainment.

In September the Players ‘Zoomed’ into their first-ever virtual Annual General Meeting – a legal requirement for any charity – and with the usual business dealt with efficiently in record time it fell to the President, Michael Squire, to make a special presentation to the Theatre’s retiring Treasurer, Josie Porter who has held the post for the past thirteen years. In thanking Josie on behalf of the Players Michael pointed out the increased responsibilities of the Treasurer during the decade-long fund-raising to ensure the Theatre’s future. With that future now assured the Membership wished Josie a well deserved retirement. Balancing the books from now on will be the responsibility of the Theatre’s newly elected Treasurer Richard Coney.

And after all the aforementioned smartening-up of the premises it was felt we should take further steps to make sure we were seen and recognised on the High Street - at the beginning of October a new sign designed by Bob Sampson was painted on the front elevation. We can’t yet say when productions will start again, nor when our friends from the Film Club can join us for a new season of films, but we’re pleased that the Theatre was able to provide a venue for preparation of some of the recent Hurst Festival events.

However, we are hopeful a virtual pantomime will be shot in and around Hurstpierpoint during November and edited ready for screening over Christmas. Auditions for a very special production of The Tales of Robin Hood were extremely well attended, all conducted under strict Covid regulations; clearly people are desperate to get back into the swing of performing live theatre.

With casting yet to be confirmed the plan is to use as many outdoor locations as possible so residents of Hurstpierpoint should not be surprised to see mediaeval villagers or various Merry Men involved in intense dialogue in some unexpected places. Of course, we rely on the current Covid situation here remaining the same and if so, rehearsals will begin early in November.

Hurst Players put 2020 theatre season on hold!

By Anne Hopper, Press & Publicity Officer, Hurst Players

With the best will in the world, due to the rampaging coronavirus it is highly unlikely that in the immediate future people will wish to – or possibly not be permitted to – attend the Players Theatre in Hurstpierpoint for our intended season of four plays.

We have, therefore, decided to cancel the first two productions of the season: Neil Simon’s Gingerbread Lady, due on stage in April/May, and Ade Morris’s comedy ‘The Boadicea of Britannia Street’, originally intended to be shown in July.

This is not a decision the Players have taken lightly. We shall review the situation again before preparations for the Hurst Festival production of Outside Edge in September, and if conditions have improved we shall be delighted and relieved if this can go ahead. We’ll all be ready for a laugh or two again by then!

Non-stop Shakespeare by Hurstpierpoint Players

12th-15th October 2017

By Bob Sampson

Hurstpierpoint Players are planning a repeat of the successful Non-stop Shakespeare as a fundraiser to refurbish the Players Theatre in Hurstpierpoint.

As happened in 1999, it is our intention to get all 37 plays read in this 70-hour marathon, and we are inviting our members, friends, schools, professional actors, neighbouring amateur dramatic groups, in fact anyone who is interested, to get involved.

There are also great opportunities for companies to sponsor plays or take advertising space in the souvenir programme. Email shakespeare@hurstplayers.org.uk for details of what’s on offer.

The readings will go on 24 hours a day from 7.30pm on Thursday 12th October until whatever time we finish on Sunday 15th.

If you don’t want to read, please put this in your diary anyway to come along and support those that do! 

We contacted the Shakespeare Centre Library looking for advice on how long we might have to allow if we were to read right through. They said: “You deserve a huge amount of money if you’re going to read through all of Shakespeare’s plays! Going on the productions done here by the RSC, and taking at least half an hour off their running time, it would take anywhere between 60 - 80 hours to go through all the plays, depending on your texts and the speed of your readers.”

The Theatre Museum was really helpful too. Word had it that they had done a complete reading of the plays in 1989. However, it turned out they had missed a few! So it was left to the Hurstpierpoint Players to take on the task in 1999. We have done it before, so now the date is set and the mammoth operation is under way once again.

The Players Theatre building was converted to a theatre in 1976 and it has been apparent for a while now that the theatre building is in need of some significant maintenance and refurbishment work. The seats for example were already 30 years old when they were installed and the heating system has become more erratic and noisy as the years have passed. The Theatre is used by Hurstpierpoint Players, Hurst Village Cinema and Centre Stage Children’s theatre as well as many other theatre and musical concerts. The intention of this refurbishment is to make the place more comfortable for the audiences and users of the theatre.

If you want to take part in this thrilling experience, or just find out more details, send an email to shakespeare@hurstplayers.org.uk

The Regina Monologues comes to Hurstpierpoint

Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived. There’s more to this little phrase than meets the eye as Hurstpierpoint Players’ next production, The Regina Monologues by Rebecca Russell and Jenny Wafer, proves!

The writers transplant the stories of the six wives of Henry VIII into the 21st century and by doing so show that their lives are not that far removed from those of modern women. Cleverly constructed, this is not a series of six monologues spoken one after the other.

Each wife takes a turn to reveal another bit of their story, which serves to hold the audience’s interest as all the tales reach their climax at once.

The Regina Monologues is both extremely funny and poignant, changing in the space of seconds, done with as much skill as Alan Bennett shows in his ability to find humour in the minutiae of life as well as in the big relationships! Coincidentally the show is accompanied by some of Bennett’s Talking Heads plays: Hand of God, Miss Fozzard finds her Feet and Soldiering On. At The Players Theatre, High Street, Hurstpierpoint from 28th March until 1st April, starting at 8pm.

Tickets are £10 Tuesday and Wednesday and £11 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They can be purchased from Richwards, 133 High Street, call 01273 834506, or buy online with a 65p booking fee per transaction (not per ticket) and can be posted to you for an extra £1 per transaction. Visit www.hurstplayers.org.uk for details.

Unfortunately Hurst Players are not able to offer price concessions for this production.