News and updates from Little Theatre Company - June 2013

This month - Piaf sings again

Almost time for the curtain to rise on 'the little sparrow'

Our June production - Piaf, by Pam Gems - opens at the Brewhouse on Tuesday June 25 and runs until Saturday June 29, 2013.
Many of you will be familiar with the unique voice of of Edith Piaf, and you might even know that she had a charismatic stage presence and rose from the back streets of Paris to become an international star.
But not everyone knows that her private life was wild, unconventional and controversial.
This gritty drama, with music, shows her offstage as a coarse, unreliable and promiscuous woman who at times in her life was addicted to drink and drugs. This is a play with adult content and some strong language.
It captures both the glamour and the squalor of this extraordinary woman's life.
We are delighted to be presenting this play in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest singers of the 20th century.
Below are some images captured at rehearsals by Geoff Thompson The cast includes Katie Haywood as Piaf, Vicky Fryer as her friend Toine, Sarah Spencer as Marlene Dietrich, Pete Banton as Piaf's manager Henri, Rob Tunley as Piaf's agent Pierre, Mike Mear as Papa Leplee and John Bowness as Marcel.
The show will be performed at 7.30pm each night of its run and there is also a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm on June 29.
Tickets are Â£8 and can be obtained from the Brewhouse box office in person, by telephoning 01283-508100 or online from http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/littletheatreco

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BADAC Bursary winners

Congratulations to ALL the winners of Burton and District Arts Council (BADAC) Young People's Arts Bursary Awards 2013.
These awards, generously sponsored by local organisations and individuals, give talented youngsters cash bursaries to help them finance future arts-related training.
The winners are pictured above at the presentation evening with the then Mayor of East Staffordshire, and President of BADAC during his term of office, Councillor Len Milner. He presented the 25 BADAC bursary recipients with cheques totalling Â£4,000 and wished them all well in their futures.
Four LTC Youth members were among the winners: Sam and Wil Pearson, Katie Ireland and Ewan Bourne.

Volunteer opportunities

The Brewhouse is always keen to hear from people who would like to join the rota of volunteer stewards for auditorium productions. Call the Brewhouse on 01283 508100 for more information.
Vikki Gill is also interested in hearing from anyone who would like to join the rota of volunteer bar staff at a range of Brewhouse productions. The bar is run through the Burton and District Arts Council and previous bar experience is not needed. If you could spare an evening now and then, email Vikki at vikkigill@rocketmail.com

Have you read it?

A gentle reminder to all members of Little Theatre Company - and in the case of LTC Youth members, their parents too - that the members' handbook (introduced for the first time this year) contains lots of information to help you get the most out of your membership and to help the company run smoothly.
The handbook was emailed out earlier this year - but if you've not received a copy, please email info@little-theatre.co.uk and we'll re-send it, or go to http://www.little-theatre.co.uk/about-us

Charity and good causes news

"Team Ratcliffe" is growing as more people join Little Theatre's Heather and Georga Ratcliffe to take part in the Race For Life 5k at Loughborough on July 21 and raise money for the ongoing fight against cancer.

Latest additions to the team include family and friends, including fellow LTC member Caitlin Pritchard.

If you would like to sponsor the team effort, just go to their Just Giving Page - http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/team-ratcliffe

Former LTC member Tom Powis, now working as a professional theatre producer and tour booker in London, is gathering support for his climb up Kilimanjaro over eight days this October. Tom will be raising money for both HEADWAY - the brain injury association - and MIND - the mental health charity.

He recently had his Virgin Money Giving website 'Tweeted' by actress Rebecca Front (star of The Thick Of It and much more). If you would like to sponsor Tom, go to - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TomPowis

Tom also had an exciting night at this year's Olivier Awards where the production of Goodnight Mr Tom that he has worked on won the Best Entertainment and Family Award. Tom is pictured above holding the coveted Olivier Award.

Elaine and Bill Pritchard are holding a fundraising stall for the animal charity Nowzad at The Meeting Room coffee house, on the ground floor of the Just In House furniture store on Wharf Road, on Saturday June 29 from 10.30am to 1pm. Drop in for brunch, a light lunch or just a drink and some homemade cake and support the stall which will include a tombola, quality secondhand books and Nowzad merchandise.

Baby joy - and other news in brief

Congratulations to Tilley & Matt Bancroft, and Hannah & Joel Kirkpatrick. Both couples are expecting their first babies this year.
The familiar voice of Adam Bates was heard on ITV 4 recently where he was one of a number of sports commentators based in Roland Garros for the duration of the French Open.
Harley Pantall, who left LTC to study Performance at the University of Salford in Manchester, has obtained her Equity card. We look forward to hearing more about her adventures in the theatre world soon.
LTC's Heather Gallagher will be offering singing lessons from September onwards as a VocAL Intuition teacher. She will be offering individual private lessons, as well as private and group lessons within dance schools, and her specialism will be musical theatre technique and performance. We'll have more details in our August newsletter - but you can register interest by emailing heather.ratcliffe@teachers.org.
Our Facebook page reached the milestone of 300 fans this month. If you are on Facebook and haven't found us yet, go to http://www.facebook.com/LittleTheatreCo

Well done Edward

We are very proud to say that Edward Robinson fought off tough competition to be named as Staffordshire Young Singer of the Year.
LTC member Edward, 17, who currently attends John Taylor High School, received a cheque for Â£250 and the trophy pictured right.
The trophy is named in memory of John W R Taylor, former director of music for Staffordshire. His son, David, was one of the judges of the contest organised by the Friends of Staffordshire's Young Musicians.
The other judge was international singer Yvonne Howard, a former member of the Staffordshire County Youth Choir.
To scoop the accolade, Edward performed a programme which included classical and folk music as well as musical theatre.
Next month Edward has been invited to sing at a Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Music Education Hub event at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Little Theatre Company Patrons - ready for Patrons Evening

We are grateful to ALL our private and corporate patrons who support our work with an annual donation.

Patrons are thanked through publication of their names in our souvenir programmes sold in the foyer and bar area at all our shows.

Corporate patrons - all local businesses - are also thanked through a section of the website where they each have a page.

This year, on Tuesday September 3 and Wednesday September 4, we have our bi-annual patrons' evenings. All patrons will be offered two free tickets to one of these shows. Members of the adult company and the youth company will be featured and the only way to see the show is to be a patron.

To find out more about patronage, go to http://www.little-theatre.co.uk/about-us or email elaine@little-theatre.co.uk

Corporate patrons who have renewed their support for us for another year recently include:

To see the full list of all corporate patrons - click here

Sandra Peachey LTC patron

Congratulations to LTC Corporate Patron Sandra Peachey (pictured left) , who runs the Burton group Damsels in Success.

Sandra was named winner of the Damsels in Success Director award 2013.

She scooped the award at the Women Inspiring Women awards held at the Novotel in Birmingham.

Sandra also runs her own business, Peachey Days where she helps people to get more out of life and work.

Last year she also published a book of 'love letters to life' - called Peachey Letters.

Calendar Girls sign off with a big cheque

Little Theatre Company was delighted to hand over a cheque for Â£2,560.39 to John Purser, the Regional Chairman of the Midlands branch of the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity. The money was raised by sales of the Burton Calendar Girls calendar and other fundraising leading up to our March production of the play Calendar Girls.
The final total raised was Â£2,649.89 which included 15 donations made through the girls' Just Giving page which went directly to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and so weren't included in the cheque we presented.
Thanks to everyone who supported us.
Pictured below are some of the girls at the cheque presentation to John Purser along with LTC Chairman Peter Clemson and Director John Bowness.
Burton Calendar Girls cheque presentation

Thanks for subscribing to our newsletter. The next edition will be out in August 2013. Send any news you'd like to see to elaine@little-theatre.co.uk

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