We are all hoping that 2022 will be the year that we return to a form of normality, certainly one that will allow us to perform once again on stage to safe and healthy packed audiences.
We told you that we plan to perform Flatspin in April but more of that next time. Right now we want to tell you about another performance taking place in February that we at Petuaria fully support and recommend you go and see.
One of our members, Sally Morland, has been working very hard to create a show that will raise money for both the Dove House and MacMillan charities.
A Night With the Mime Stars is a show that will feature friends and family (and that includes some of the Petuaria members eager to get back on stage) who will be miming / lip-syncing to popular songs, whilst giving them a humorous spin. It all promises to be an entertaining and fun evening that will raise money for two charities that mean so much to so many people.
It’s a show not to miss and takes place at Blackie’s club in Brough. See the details in the promotion photo and tickets can be obtained from the contacts shown there.
It’s that time again. Another year gone by and to all of our dismay we are still being restricted and injured by that dreaded virus – albeit we are in a better place now than before with, dare we say it again, better prospects ahead…..
We hardly expected to be so long off the stage but we are determined to be back in 2022 and have re-scheduled our next play, FlatSpin, for the end of April. Despite the current surge of the latest variant we remain positive that this one will not prevent us performing for you.
Meanwhile, may all of us at the Petuaria Players wish you a festive season and that you are able to make the most of the situation.
Meanwhile. A short rendition of some lyrics from last year from Uncle Steve’s fireside. Click the green link to play.
Traditionally, the end of October would have been the final performance of our current play. Two years ago at this time we were celebrating a successful run of Passing Strangers while unknown to us all a devastating virus was about to flourish. (Our next play, Say It With Flowers, would be performed in the following January oblivious to the lockdowns that would be in place only weeks later. )
Passing Strangers October 2019
None of us realised that, two years later in October 2021, we would still be inactive with no plays scheduled.
Many of you have been enquiring when we might resume, some assuming we are already in rehearsal, and it is rewarding to note the interest and desire to see us back on the stage to make you laugh, or cry or simply enjoy an evening of live theatre.
Plans for 2022
It is premature to make any announcements but the entire society is gathering in mid-November to discuss our return to the stage in 2022 and formulate our plans. You can be assured that we will keep you informed after the meeting and we hope that in a few weeks time we will be able to ask you to reserve dates in your calendar.
Have a scroll through the posters below as a reminder of our heritage of wonderful plays in the last few years. Looking at them brings back memories that make us all smile and be proud and act as inspiration for the future.
In the meantime, hang on, we are all waiting in the wings and eager to resume.
At last! Today is another milestone step on the nation’s roadmap to recovery as we open up a little more. But if anything confirms The Petuaria Players rational approach to not making premature decisions then the appearance and potential threat of the new variant that is now showing its ugly face is it.
Already there is talk within government that the total lifting of restrictions planned for June may be in jeopardy. That is one of the reasons that we have not scheduled a meeting of our planning committee until that time.
Like ourselves our followers and audience regulars are keen to see us back on the stage and are asking when that will be. The short answer is, we don’t know yet.
It is always a challenge at the best of times to find three plays that fit our cast and their availability and our stage. At the moment we are faced with too many unknowns. We are eager to get there but we need to be in a position – months ahead of a performance – where we know actors and backstage people can commit their free time to a play, are in a safe position to be rehearsing and performing in sometimes very close or intimate proximity and that they will not have to halt a production because a cast member has to self isolate. We have no stand ins. And then we have to know how we can safely bring an audience into our venue and pay our costs.
Many assume we are ready to return to rehearsals but both the rules and the above constraints mean that day is, sadly, still a little way off. Professionals are in a different position and new ways of performing to limited audiences are now in progress and that is to be welcomed.
Hopefully, next month we will have more clarity and be better informed to make decisions. And as soon as we have more news we will be posting it on here and on Facebook. Make sure you are following us to stay informed.
To sum up, our thoughts over these unknowns are about as clear as that infamous statement from Donald Rumsfeld.
….as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know….
Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary for Defence 2002
Stepping Out. We can all step out now, just not like this.
Petuaria Players 