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Petuaria Blog

Not Fake News

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HOT OFF THE PRESS FROM THE

PETUARIA PLAYERS NEWSDESK

Secret Conclave Concludes High Level Talks

The self-titled Script Committee emerged from secret talks at a carefully chosen location in Broomfleet this week with what promises to be an exciting play season ahead.  A trusted source has told this column that after lengthy deliberation a deal was finally reached.  “It was imperative that all parties reached agreement, we could not exit with a no-deal situation.”  Pressed for more information the spokesman insisted a press release would be issued next week announcing the full details.  We will endeavour to bring you that breaking news when it breaks.

Retired man entering Forum ‘horrified’ and you won’t believe what he saw

A mature member of the Petuaria Players, apparently prone to hyperbole, was utterly horrified and overwhelmed upon entering the rehearsal room of the popular Brough drama society.  “I was utterly horrified and overwhelmed” he told our reporter. “I have never seen anything like it since the last time it happened.”

Yes, once again the Forum has been flooded. In the midst of the ongoing summer heatwave that last weekend of electrical storms and the deluge pushed the water through the back wall of our hut causing mayhem. It is, shall we say, awash, bedraggled, dowsed, drenched, dripping, saturated, soaked, soaking, soggy, sopping, water-soaked, waterlogged.  Or wet. A dehumidifier is running around the clock now to try and dry us out before rehearsals start for our first play. Currently it feels like an unsavoury sauna.

Sadly, this has been a problem for some time and we are currently attempting to fund some major work to replace some sections.  In an ideal world we would replace the entire hut but that remains a distant item on a wish-list.

Petuaria Summer Break Nears End

The members have been taking a well earned rest (from productions anyway) – a long hot summer that has had those of us who are retired jealous of our still working colleagues in their air-conditioned offices. (That is definitely fake, Ed)

Monday evenings have still seen us gathering at the Forum each week to read through plays being presented as potential candidates for 2018-2019.

Our AGM took place in June and we were pleased that Mo Spence accepted the role once again as President for ‘just one more year’ and the existing committee was re-elected with the addition of Sue Hart who we welcome to the inner sanctum.

So as we approach our 57th season here’s a few photos from the olden days (with apologies to existing members who are actually on these dusty archived prints).

 

Petuaria Blog

Get Involved

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If you’re reading this you probably like watching our performances, and sitting in the audience, being entertained.  But how about getting a little more involved?

We have friends of the group who like to come along and give us a hand closer to performance time, or just like being part of a group of theatre lovers.  We are looking for new members and extra helpers. Could that be you?

We are a small group but always aim big on stage. Maintaining the effort required to create three productions a year is demanding – so more members and helpers are always welcome.

There are many reasons for getting involved and many ways of doing so with varying degrees of commitment ;

  • we are always in need of actors (especially men) – maybe there is a role for you- big or small – and we welcome adults of any age!
  • perhaps you would just like to come along to our Monday night meetings and listen to a play reading and find out more about us
  • maybe you have skills that we could utilise ;
    • working with costumes
    • music / audio & sound effects work
    • set-construction work
    • DIY & decoration of sets
    • backstage roles
    • hosting & hot drinks on performance nights
    • stage lighting assistance / video & sound feeds to backstage
  • we are not just people with a mutual love of drama – we are a socially active group of friends.  Being part of a group like ours gets you out of the house, meeting other people, having a laugh – we visit other productions, the cinema, have meals out.

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So why not consider how you could help the Petuaria Players continue to entertain local residents and lovers of live theatre?

Call in at the Forum any Monday evening after 7.30pm.

The Forum meeting  / rehearsal building is next to the Village Hall and contact details are here.

Don’t be shy, come and see us.

Installing the stop start clock mechanism
Rachel runs through sound & lights
Hard work deserves fish and chips…
Mike and his handiwork
Up in the loft
Petuaria Blog

IRITF: the photos

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As the sunshine finally seems to be settling in as a normality rather than an exception, we look back to April and our closing play of the season, Ray Cooney’s farce ‘It Runs In The Family’.

Here are a few of the photos taken at dress rehearsal (courtesy as usual of our friend Dave Hackett).

Click on an image to enlarge and scroll through as a slideshow

 

Petuaria Blog

Set Destruct

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We have a great selection of photos from the play to show you in a few days or so – but before that a couple of posts about our experience of creating the production.   Firstly, have a look at this little video of our set-destruction last Sunday, primarily for those who haven’t seen it on our Facebook page.

And I’m also using this post as an experiment to see if we can successfully post video content onto the webpage so please feedback and let me know if it works.  

Note: those who are reading the email version of this post will need to click the blue title link (Set Destruct) as they can only be viewed on the web page.

Here is our time-lapse video of set-destruction – three days of hard work building it and three hours taking it all down.

And the above fails to show the team dismantling the platforms and tiers, the lifting of all the gear into the loft, dismantling back stage, returning masses of equipment back to our rehearsal room and more…

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A few make it to the pub after set destruct for a well earned pint