We wish all our members, friends and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
SCROOGE THE MUSICAL
Great fun was had by all involved in our November show which was performed to extremely appreciative audiences with very few empty seats.
We were especially delighted to receive this lovely, unsolicited email:
"I travelled with a friend from Nottingham tonight to watch Scrooge. It was our first visit to the theatre. We were completely bowled over. It was an absolutely stunning production and we enjoyed every minute. Many many congratulations to everyone involved. We’ll definitely be back for future productions."
We also received a lovely letter from the Mayor and Mayoress of East Staffordshire, who wrote to congratulate us on a "superb evening.... The costumes, staging and special effects were all top quality, making this our best performance to date - topping those we have even seen in London."
Writing in the Burton Mail, Ben Waldron also gave the show an excellent review:
"Burton's very own Little Theatre Company has brought the festive season slightly earlier this year with their own musical interpretation - and it is certainly not something to be missed.
The make-or-break element of this sort of performance always comes from the casting and performance of the main man himself - Ebenezer Scrooge. And Peter Clemson could not have done a better job of portraying the dastardly, detestable and selfish character. Certain to remind most of the audience of at least one person in their own lives, Scrooge came across as money obsessed, work driven - and just an all round bad person, frankly.
However, Clemson added a new layer of personality to the role, juxtaposing the character's villainous traits with odd moments of humour and even, dare I say it, likability. His vocal range impressed, with contributions and numbers of his own from the outset and throughout.
A character on the complete other end of the scale from Scrooge is the adorable Tiny Tim, a cheerful, yet critically ill seven-year-old. Brandon Lawson, playing Tim, turned in a performance far beyond his years, demonstrating the maturity and vocal talent of someone far more experienced as he banished any opening-night nerves.
Performances from Rob Tunley as Bob Cratchit, Phil Robinson as Jacob Marley and Katie Haywood as the ghost of Christmas present are all worthy of plaudits for their stage presence andstunning vocal renditions.
Many would have left the Burton theatre at the end of the performance tapping their feet and humming away because of the catchy songs littered through the play. Particular mention should go to "Thank You Very Much", which involved pretty much the whole of the company, including a reprise in the final number of the show.
If you are looking to get into the Christmas spirit, even though it is still only November, this is certainly a good place to start."
THANK YOU VERY MUCH ONE AND ALL!
Karen Hailstone is one of a number of LTC actors who appeared in this show as well as in our first production back in 2005, albeit in a different role. She penned a short poem:
Fourteen years ago this month
That cast of Scrooge delivered
The poignant lines and festive songs
That Bricusse had assembled.
I were Mrs Pringle then
With velvet dress 'n Toyshop,
This time l'm Mrs Dilber, dear,
An' knittin fit ter drop!
"Scrooge" saw the debut of two new adult members whom we welcome to the LTC family - Sharon Hughes (left) and Sheila Cook.
Sharon has performed with BASE (Burton Amateur Stage Entertainers) for the past 9 years in their annual pantos. She's Office Manager for the estate agents Newton Fallowell in Burton, has a son in the Coldstream Guards and a young grandson. Sharon was particularly delighted to perform in this show as "Scrooge"/"A Christmas Carol" are her favourite book, film and musical.
Sheila last performed in musicals 17 years ago with New Era alongside Peter, John and Katie, although she currently sings for Rolleston Choral Society and Sing4Health in Swadlincote. Sheila is retired but has a vast number of interests and enjoys spending time with her family which includes a great great grandson. She has struggled since the death of her husband and says that being in the show has really cheered her up and given her a new lease of life.
"RENT" - OUR NEXT PRODUCTION
Rehearsals are underway for our next LTC Youth production which will be performed at the Brewhouse Arts Centre between Tuesday 14th and Saturday 18th April 2020.
This exhilarating, landmark musical, with music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson, tells the thrilling story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive in New York City’s East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian excess in the late 1980's.
Inspired by Puccini’s classic opera "La Bohème", "Rent" features unforgettable music and lyrics including the much-loved songs Seasons of Love, Take Me or Leave Me and La Vie Bohème. Winner of four Tony® Awards, six Drama Desk Awards and the hugely prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it ran on Broadway for an astonishing 12 years.
We have an exceptionally talented cast, many of whom you will have seen perform in "Scrooge the Musical".
It is definitely worth putting Tuesday 23rd - Saturday 27th June 2020 in your diary so you don't miss this extremely funny play.
We are delighted to present Alfred Hitchcock's classic spy thriller, The 39 Steps, based on the 1915 novel by John Buchan, brilliantly and hilariously recreated for the stage by Patrick Barlow. This smash hit show won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy and the What's On Stage Award for Best Comedy, both in 2007, and two Tony awards in 2008.
Featuring a handful of actors playing no fewer than 139 roles. Gasp in astonishment at the breathtaking adventures of our dashing hero, Richard Hannay, as he grapples with dastardly murderers, double-crossing secret agents and devastatingly beautiful women. Whoop with delight as he narrowly escapes from a succession of hair-raising escapades. And hoot with laughter as he and his fellow characters deliver some of the funniest one-liners you'll hear on stage all year.
Rehearsals are in their final stages for the StageScreen production of "Annie Jnr" being performed at The Brewhouse next Saturday - December 14th at 2.30 and 7.30pm.
You may not see your familiar LTC family faces on stage but you will see lots of junior versions! See if you can spot JoJo (Tilley and Matt Bancroft), Thea (Hannah and Joel Kirkpatrick), Laila (Angela Kirk), Imogen (Luke Williams), Ella (Rachael Histed) and Olivia Cruise (LTC Youth) in amongst a company of 40 children (many making their stage debut!)
With its Tony® award-winning book and score, including the unforgettable songs "It’s The Hard-Knock Life", "Easy Street", "I don’t Need Anything But You" and "Tomorrow", you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it!
StageScreen is a part-time drama school in Burton-on-Trent for under-18s delivering professional-standard training in acting, musical theatre and film.
Its aim is to create well-rounded, happy, confident young performers. In addition our teachers will help students to develop social skills that will enrich their lives whether or not they choose a career in the performing arts.
Classes take place every Saturday morning in term time at the Burton Albion Community Hub, Grange Street, Burton-on-Trent, and a free trial is available for anyone interested.
For the new year 2020 we are running an offer for any new student that comes for a FREE trial and enrols with StageScreen.
If you are a member of LTC Youth – or are a child/grandchild of an LTC member - please quote LTC25 when you contact us to receive 25% discount off your first term! (*value £61)
In the Spotlight this time is Dawn White (pictured recently in "Scrooge") who has been in many of our shows and worked very hard backstage for LTC Youth productions.
What have been your favourite LTC shows – and why?
It has to be the three "Les Miserables" Youth productions because the youth are amazingly talented and I was very privileged to assist backstage for all three shows. I enjoyed being in "Acorn Antiques" and "Calendar Girls".
Have you had an “OMG” moment (on or backstage) in an LTC show? What was it?
Yes! In "Beauty and the Beast" I almost got stuck in Belle' s skirt as I was fastening her petticoat and it started to come undone just as she was about to go on stage. Luckily it only happened once!
Who’s your favourite actor and actress?
I'd choose Julie Walters, because she is really talented, and Alan Rickman, especially when he played Severus Snape.
Favourite Movie?
"The Green Mile". I have seen it dozens of times and I still get emotional when I watch it.
Favourite TV show?
It has got to be "Game of Thrones". I loved it!
Best thing you’ve seen in the professional theatre?
"Les Miserables" which I've seen twice this year and also "War Horse" which I've seen 3 times!
Which 6 people from the world of entertainment (past or present) would you invite round for dinner?
My perfect dinner party would be with Freddie Mercury, Victoria Wood and Julie Walters, Alfie Boe, Robin Williams, and Emilia Clarke.
All babies are adorable but this one is absolutely gorgeous! Introducing Lorelei Florence Gill who made her appearance on October 18th weighing 6lb12oz, the same as her big brother Zach. Many congratulations to parents Caitlin and Alex Gill, and to grandparents including Elaine and Bill Pritchard!!
If you find yourself in Gay Paris before March 8th, pop along to the prestigious Théâtre Marigny (just off the Champs Élysées) to see our very own Josh Andrews perform in the French premiere of "Funny Girl". The show, sung in English with French surtitles, has garnered 5 star reviews and its run has been extended for a further 2 months.
Closer to home, you can catch Sophie Towns playing Fairy Fern in the panto "Robin Hood" at the Core Theatre, Solihull from 13 December to 5 January. Book your tickets by clicking HERE.
Down in London Ellie Holmes (pictured here as the Teapot in our 2010 production of "Beauty and the Beast") is in the last stage of rehearsals for the brand new production of "Les Miserables" at the newly refurbished Sondeim Theatre (formerly Queens Theatre) on Shaftesbury Avenue. Ellie, who performs professionally as Ellie Ann Lowe, reports:
"So far, rehearsals have been really busy and they are about to get busier! We’ve been working 6 days a week at our rehearsal venue in East London but on Tuesday we head into tech for two weeks at the theatre and our hours will be even longer starting at around 11am and finishing at 10pm. We can’t wait to get into theatre as it’s all been completely refurbished and our directors say that Cameron has done a fantastic job.
Most aspects are still subject to change (especially if Cameron doesn’t like something!) but so far I have three wigs for my ensemble track and all our costumes, boots and shoes are brand new and made to measure! I can’t remember how many different costumes I have tried on! I tried my Fantine wigs on for size the other day and that was really special.
The team are wonderful and it’s brilliant to be a part of something so unique and to be in the original cast of this ‘new’ production. The show is relentless and if you’re not on stage you’re getting changed in the wings ready to get back on!
If anyone has seen the recent tour, there are parts that are similar to it and some that are not. The music is generally the same but a few scenes have been completely reworked and we have been able to create these together so there will be something new for everyone to see when they come and watch!"
Many of you will remember Adam Bates as a superb Adrian Mole back in 2007. Adam has recently returned from his second stint volunteering in refugee camps on the Greek Island of Lesvos, and writes:
"When I arrived, it was immediately apparent that the situation was entirely different compared to my stay in 2015. Back then, people usually stayed no more than a night or two. Now, in Moria camp, a record 16,000+ people are trapped indefinitely for months and years in inhumane third-world conditions.
It’s more than 5 times overcapacity so it’s unbearably cramped. Many are living in tents with up to 14 others who are often strangers. Tiny children play among heaps of stinking rubbish. Elderly people are sometimes confined to their tents because it’s impossible for them to navigate the slippy, rocky terrain. Some have had legs blown off in warzones and are forced to struggle around on crutches.
Some are dealing with unimaginable trauma, like the man besieged by the memory of armed men entering his home and murdering all his family members one-by-one, as he watched on helplessly. It was punishment for neglecting to join the group.
Women soil themselves in nappies because they’re too scared to venture to the toilet at night. Some children have resorted to selling their bodies for sex to earn some money, others self-harm. 1000s of people live in great pain and suffering because of a desperate lack of medical care. Babies have died.
It’s all so unnecessary and avoidable. Political institutions have scandalously abandoned people here (including the locals on the islands too). Major charities are conspicuous by their absence.
I’m sorry I have to leave, especially now the storms have drenched the camps making life a whole lot more challenging. The new Greek government has said they are going to CLOSE the refugee camps here and on the other islands. They will be replaced by detention centres. The people here will be, in effect, imprisoned. They will not be allowed to leave the centre freely.
The government has also brought in a new law to speed up the asylum procedure, which strips away fundamental human rights, making it easier for people to be deported. IN SHORT, tens of thousands of vulnerable people are to be locked up like criminals and then sent to their native countries to face the horrors they fled from.
What is happening to this world?"
You can read more about Adam's experiences on Lesvos by clicking HERE.
At the Season of Goodwill, could you possibly make a small (well, ideally large, but every penny helps!) donation by clicking HERE? Although Adam has met his target he will ensure that everything goes to help these desperate people.
Festive concerts in Burton on Trent!
Sam and Wil Pearson invite everyone at Little Theatre Company to join them for an evening of festive fun in Burton on Trent this Christmas!
On the 17th December the Wil Pearson Trio is playing an intimate Christmas by Candlelight concert in the Brewhouse bar. This cosy evening usually sells out fast so do book your tickets today!
The 18th December is our Rat Pack Christmas gig, featuring the Hot House Music Schools Screaming Kicks Big Band! Hosted in the fabulous marquee at the National Brewery Centre, this will be a lively and energetic evening of Christmas tunes in the style of legends such as Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé.
The concerts are raising money in aid of the Hot House tour to Japan next year. Hot House has been invited to perform at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as part of the cultural exchange, and as part of the Hot House commitment to supporting the development of its students. We need to raise enough money so that every member can afford to come on this incredible adventure!
It would be brilliant if we could get as many LTC members as possible. We’d love to catch up with everyone there!
Tickets are available at the Brewhouse box office and at the National Brewery Centre.
