Previous Shows
ELSIE AND NORM'S 'MACBETH' by John Christopher-Wood. June 2010
Elsie and Norm, fed up with playing Trivial Pursuit and watching television, have decided to have a bash at a bit of culture by staging a production of Macbeth in their living-room. After a spot of judicious re-writing by Norm - fresh from his literary endeavours for the Pigeon Breeders' Gazette - to make it snappier and more punchy, and undaunted by the large cast, Elsie and Norm set out to act "one of the greatest pieces of literature what has ever been wrote in the English language", playing all the characters between them. Well, all the characters that is except for Banquo (which is played by a large toy panda in a kilt) and his son Fleance (played by a smaller toy panda in a kilt). The hilarious results are guaranteed to set Shakespeare spinning in his grave! This production included one member of the audience taking a cameo role at each performance.
This 8 date tour visited: GLOSSOP Partington Theatre, BURLEY-IN-WHARFEDALE Queen's Hall, TADCASTER Riley-Smith Hall, BROUGH Methodist Church, PICKERING Kirk Theatre, SALTBURN Community Theatre, WHITBY Pavilion Theatre, BRIDLINGTON Spotlight Theatre.
CAST: Elsie...Roberta Kerr. Norm...Gerry Hinks
PERSONNEL: Producer...Claire Butler. Director...Andy Fox. Stage Manager...Fiona Organ. Sound Equipment...Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster Artwork...Selina Hallam
SORRY, I LOVE YOU... by John Goodrum. March 2010
Helen sits dejectedly on a pavement having just broken up with her boyfriend Pete. The next two people she meets prove to be significant to her life in very different ways: one is a tramp, the other, Jools, a friend of Pete's. A love affair develops between Helen and Jools and their romance is witnessed by a cafe owner, a zoo-keeper, a pizza delivery man and hotel receptionists, who all look - to Helen's increasing amazement - remarkably like the tramp. A charming twist suggests that occasionally relationships need a little help - sometimes from the least expected sources. Whimsical, funny and heady with romance. The 6 date tour visited: TADCASTER Riley-Smith Hall, PICKERING Memorial Hall, SALTBURN Community Theatre, WHITBY Pavilion Theatre, BROUGH Methodist Church, BRIDLINGTON Spotlight Theatre.
CAST: Helen...Jayne Ashley. Jools...Richard Dipple. Tramp...Michael Wardle.
PERSONNEL: Produced & directed by Claire Butler. Production Assistant - Fiona Organ. Sound Effects & Equipment - Mick Spratt at Wigwam Acoustics. Carpenter - Nick Butler. Poster Artwork - Selina Hallam.
NIGHTWATCH. by Claire Butler. October 2009
Pete & Susan have put up with their thoughtless neighbours 'dumping', (not parking), their cars in the middle of the street every night - thus blocking them in - for years. Following night after night of curtain twitching to observe this blatant inconsideration, they can take no more. Pete takes to the phone AGAIN to voice his complaints to the police, (only to be told "it's not illegal"), thus waking Susan who realises she has now missed "the last one on Jonathan Ross". This is in addition to their wheelie bin troubles, someone's offensive rotting caravan residing outside on the street and the endless wait for their £74 tax refund. Pete & Susan fight their corner regardless - even though no one, anywhere, seems to "care". A black comedy covering neighbour relations, social injustice & good old political ranting. This production became a finalist in the Daffodil Theatre Awards 2009. Performed at The Stantonbury Theatre, Milton Keynes, on Sunday 25th October 2009. Written & directed by Claire Butler. CAST: Pete...Ian Hayles, Susan...Gayle Dennis, WPC...Fiona Organ. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd.
BAZAAR & RUMMAGE. by Sue Townsend. September 2009
Gwenda, a neurotic do-gooder and ex-agoraphobic, leads a self-help group of 3 agoraphobic women who have been unable to leave their homes for many years for a variety of reasons. They are now venturing out to run a local jumble sale at a church hall, supervised by Gwenda and assisted by sensible trainee social worker Fliss. While sorting the rummage their fears erupt and as the day ends their agoraphobia isn't cured but they leave with the knowledge that they are far from alone in their fears. Written with the sharply observed humour of Sue Townsend, (Adrian Mole, The Queen & I). Featuring 6 musical numbers written specifically for Planet Rabbit by Nathan Dawe.
This 8 date tour visited: HULL Northern Academy of Performing Arts, BRIDLINGTON Spotlight Theatre, TADCASTER Riley-Smith Hall, OSWALDTWISTLE Civic Theatre, BINGLEY Arts Centre, GLOSSOP Partington Theatre, WHITBY Pavilion Theatre, PICKERING Memorial Hall.
CAST: Gwenda...Jackie Grimwood, Fliss...Fiona Organ, Katrina...Samantha Worrall, Bell-Bell...Julie Guard, Margaret...Annette Marriette, WPC...Jackie Grimwood.
PERSONNEL: Producer...Claire Butler, Director...Harry Gallagher, Composer...Nathan Dawe, Choreographer...Sue Brackenbury, Stage Manager...Jen Sanderson, Sound Effects & Equipment...Mick Spratt of Wigwam Acoustics, Poster Artwork...Selina Hallam
ANORAK OF FIRE - THE LIFE & TIMES OF GUS GASCOIGNE, TRAINSPOTTER. by Stephen Dinsdale. July 2009
With his NHS spectacles, flask, sandwiches and beloved anorak clad with badges, Gus Gascoigne is a lovable teenage geek. He cannot see beyond trainspotting and enthusiastically tells the story of his life, love, locos and the joys of spotting. Detailing a disastrous, yet hilarious, romantic encounter and the history of his anorak - the anorak of fire - which he proudly wears after inheriting it from the greatest spotter that ever lived. A genuinely funny one act play. Starring Chris Leach as Gus Gascoigne. Directed by Andy Fox. Produced by Claire Butler. Stage Managed by Jen Sanderson. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Performed 4 times as part of the Buxton Festival Fringe 2009, plus 4 additional performances; LEEDS Carriageworks, GLOSSOP Partington Theatre, HEBDEN BRIDGE Little Theatre, HEYWOOD Baptist Church. Poster photography - Helen Butler. Poster Artwork - Selina Hallam
STANDBY ON STAGE PLEASE! by Claire Butler. July 2009
Suzi, a well-known TV sitcom actress, has fuelled her celebrity status by appearing on Clebrity Ready Steady Cook, Celebrity Come Dine With Me, Celebrity Bargain Hunt, Celebrity Weakest Link and so on. She is now starring in a top pantomime and seems oblivious to the fact she is hired purely for her name, not her acting ability. Set in the wings of a theatre we witness Suzi's inability to remember any of her lines, her ludicrous requests to those around her and her constant off-stage wittering in the direction of the long-suffering stage manager, Kate. Despite their lifestyle differences we realise perhaps Suzi & Kate envy each other and that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be. A one act comedy written and directed by Claire Butler. Performed twice at the Buxton Festival Fringe in July 2009. Starring Fiona Organ as Kate and Emily Trebicki as Suzi. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster artwork by Selina Hallam
GEORGE - DON'T DO THAT. by Joyce Grenfell. May/July 2009
Joyce Grenfell's famous nursery school sketches. Six separate comedy monologues of a primary school teacher addressing a classroom of four year-olds. Both clever and funny, you feel you are surrounded by classmates Neville, Lavinia, Sidney, Hazel, Susan and, of course, George as their innocent behaviour is brought to life through their teacher. Simple events such as Sidney & Neville taking hamsters Paddington and Harold Wilson out of their cage, Hazel getting her finger stuck in a keyhole and Sidney swallowing a button make this a charming piece of comedy. Written by the legendary Joyce Grenfell. This production played twice in July 2009 as part of the Buxton Festival Fringe, and presented at a private function for the Howdenshire Women's Institute Annual Rally, East Yorkshire in May. Performed by Gayle Dennis. Produced & directed by Claire Butler. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster Artwork by Selina Hallam
GROPING FOR WORDS. a comedy by Sue Townsend. September 2008
Joyce begin teaching an adult literacy class. Her pupils are faced with the frustration and embarrassment of learning to read and write in adulthood. Complete with nursery classroom and Wendy House, we follow four mismatched people thrust together in one pursuit which is both touching and laugh-out-loud funny. Written with wonderful humour and sharp wit in true Sue Townsend fashion, (Adrian Mole, The Queen & I). This production was directed by Peter Martin, (Len Reynolds - Emmerdale, Joe - The Royle Family, Ernie - Brassed Off).
This 16 date tour visited: NORTH FERRIBY Village Hall, HEBDEN BRIDGE Little Theatre, BAILDON Ian Clough Hall, BURLEY-IN-WHARFDALE Queen's Hall, CHERRY BURTON Village Hall, HALIFAX Playhouse, PATELEY BRIDGE Memorial Hall, WHITBY Pavilion Theatre, GRIMSBY Caxton Theatre, TADCASTER Riley-Smith Hall, PICKERING Memorial Hall, GAINSBOROUGH Trinity Arts Centre, HUTTON RUDBY Village Hall, LYTHAM ST ANNES Lowther Pavilion, GLOSSOP Partington Theatre, SLAITHEWAITE Civic Hall.
CAST: Kevin...Chris Leach, Joyce...Gayle Dennis, George...Michael Wardle, Thelma...Laura Spratt.
PERSONNEL:Producer...Claire Butler, Director...Peter Martin, Technical Manager...Mick Spratt,
Stage Manager...Cat Robson, Lighting Supplier...Dave Simpson, Carpenter...Nick Butler.
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