Murder Mystery

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Mediterranean Mezze- Sliced salami and chorizo, slow roasted peppers & sundried tomatoes, marinated mixed olives, beetroot falafel, homemade pickled onion accompanied with a bread selection (vegan & gluten free options available)
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Boeuf a la grille, topped with west country cheddar

or 

Roasted beetroot, edamame bean & quinoa bake (vegan)

Both served with seasoned skin on potatoes, cottage garden salad & toasted brioche
(gluten free options available)
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Death by chocolate tart finished with vanilla cream (vegan & gluten free) 

Buy Your Tickets Here

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WORKSHOP DATES

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The committee have been working hard to decide on ways The Players can continue and attract new members and support. So, we have decided to run some workshops to encourage both our existing members and new people to come along and take part – and have some fun in the process! We have been fortunate in securing professional help for these workshops and hope that they will be well supported.

All the workshops will take place in the Function Room of the Dolphin Hotel.

📖Tuesday 7th February at 7.30pm. Nigel, the Chairman (not a professional!) will run some play readings where we will discuss the impressions made from the page, character analysis, and maybe even a bit acting!

🎼Tuesday 21st February at 7.30pm. Kathryn Bringloe, professional singing teacher and classically trained soprano, will be exploring ‘Connecting Singing and Voice with the actor’. She will focus on drawing attention to the body, breath and voice for the actor. Then progressing to the sung voice, learning warm up exercises and singing techniques to help an on-stage performance.

If you have a favourite song or monologue you would like to try out, please bring it along.

🎭Tuesday 7th March at 7.30pm: Come and join professional actor and voiceover artist Gordon Cooper for a fun acting workshop, exploring and playing with basic acting techniques and exercises to help in developing interesting and believable characters for performance.

🎬Tuesday 14th March at 7.30pm: Alistair Ganley, Artistic Director at The Cygnet Theatre in Exeter, will be running a workshop on Directing Skills and acting techniques. The Cygnet Theatre is a well-established training theatre for both professional and amateur actors, and teaches a wide range of theatrical skills and techniques.

Everyone is welcome!


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NEVER MIND THE BUTLER

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‘Never Mind The Butler’ was The Players production in October 2023. This was a comedy about life in a rather disjointed stately home. Lord Uppington of Uppington Park has gambled away the estate in a game of poker losing to One Eyed One Balled Big Bob the Cheat McBruiser! In previous years he had lost the estate in a game of dominoes, and again in a game of conkers, and it was left to the family to try and raise money to regain control. The story features a wealthy Lord who is allegedly murdered in the basement, and a possible heir to the estate who has been living in the maze in the garden for 10 years. A lot of nonsense, but great fun and hugely appreciated by sell out audiences for each night of the production.

First time Director Simon Mathews assembled a cast of 13 Players and designed a set featuring three different rooms in Uppington Park. Together with our ever efficient light and sound team and the wonderful costumes prepared by costume supremo Chris Towle, the audience were taken on a very silly murder mystery journey! Downton Abbey it was not!!

Another popular success for The Bovey Players, well supported by our local audiences, and an important step in continuing The Players 50 year record of providing live theatre for the town

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Never Mind The Butler

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The Players have now embarked on their latest production which will be presented at the Dolphin Hotel on October 19th, 20th and 21st.

We are pleased to announce that we have a new director who is willing to take on this unruly bunch and continue the 50 year tradition of putting on entertainment for the people of Bovey Tracey. Simon Mathews is a new member of the Players who has been involved in drama for a long time and now wants to take the overall responsibility of directing. Some of our regular followers may well have seen him perform in our most recent production of ‘Family Spirit’ in May, where he played someone who had died!

‘Never Mind the Butler’ is a comedy about an upper class family in a big house, where the entire estate has been gambled away (again!) by His Lordship. This is of course, of great concern to his disjointed family, and the search is on for an heir with lots of money who can buy the estate back again from One-Eyed, One Balled Big Bob ‘The Cheat’ Mc Bruiser.

We have all enjoyed the drama and stories from Downton Abbey over the last few years, and this production is nothing like it! Probably best described as a spoof on period dramas, this will be a lot of fun, and will provide an entertaining evening for all – provided of course you have had the right upbringing!!

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OCTOBER 2023 PLAY

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Soon to be announced our choice of play for this October! We will be casting soon and will need help behind the scene …..if you can help please get in touch, boveytraceyplayers.org / contact us…..

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Theatre workshops coming soon…

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Bovey Tracey Players, a community theatre group based in the small town of Bovey Tracey in Devon, England, will soon announce a series of theatre workshops for its members and interested parties. Led by experienced theatre professionals, these workshops are an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to improve their acting skills or simply learn more about the world of theatre.

The workshops will cover a range of topics, including character development, stage presence, and script analysis. Participants will have the chance to work on monologues and scenes from a variety of plays, both classic and contemporary, and receive feedback and guidance from the workshop leaders.

Workshop leaders will demonstrate how to use lighting equipment, including how to set up and operate different types of lights and how to create different lighting effects. They will also teach participants how to use sound equipment, including how to set up and operate microphones and speakers, and how to create and edit sound effects.

One of the great things about these workshops is that they’re open to all levels of experience. Whether you’ve been acting for years or are just starting out, there’s a place for you in these workshops. The workshop leaders are skilled at adapting their instruction to meet the needs of each individual participant, ensuring that everyone gets the most out of the experience.

But the benefits of these workshops extend beyond just the acting skills that participants will acquire. The theater is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together and create something special, and these workshops provide a great opportunity for people to make new connections and friendships.

So if you’re a member of the Bovey Tracey Players, or if you’re simply interested in theatre and looking for a way to get involved, these workshops are a great opportunity. Don’t miss out on the chance to improve your acting skills, meet new people, and be a part of something truly special. Sign up now and take the first step towards becoming a better actor and a more connected member of your community.

In summary, the Bovey Tracey Players’ theatre workshops are a great opportunity for actors of all levels to improve their skills and learn about the technical aspects of theatre. Led by experienced professionals, these workshops will cover a range of topics including character development, stage presence, script analysis, lighting techniques, and sound design. Whether you’re an experienced actor looking to brush up on your skills or a beginner looking to try something new, these workshops have something for everyone.

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PLAY READINGS AND MEMBERSHIP OFFER!

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Thanks to all those who attended our recent AGM. Lots of good discussion and ideas.  The committee have met since and have two exciting updates for you.


New Membership Offer

The Annual Membership which runs from 1st February to 31st January each year will remain at the current level of £15 per adult per year and will include the following extras:

  • £1 off ticket prices for you and a friend
  • Free entry into an end of year draw to win free membership for the following year

And if that isn’t tempting enough, apply before 31st July and you will get 18 months for the price of 12 ie your membership will run to 31st January 2024!

Your membership fee is important as it enables us to insure our belongings and provide cover for our productions. So, if you are involved in a production whether on stage or off stage we will need you to be a paid up member.  For those who have already paid your membership, thank you and the new deal will apply to you too!

If you need our bank details to renew or take up your membership please click Contact us above and we will provide the details


Production News

We have the Dolphin booked for the week beginning 14th November for our Autumn production. Katy Bringloe has offered to direct and has some ideas of plays she would like to do. We are planning a few play readings over the next few weeks starting Thursday 9th June, 7.30pm at Bovey Paradiso when we hope to read extracts from ‘The Marquise’ by Noel Coward.  Everyone is welcome, whether you are interested in being involved or not. Watch this space for further dates.
Look forward to seeing you there. 
Nigel Gillingham
Chairman.

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Well about time too!

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It’s been too long since we were able to put on any productions but now we’re back with a barnstorming evening of entertainment. Blackadder is back, along with live music from local singer/songwriter Paul Field and even a bite to eat if you fancy it!

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A Letter from the Chairman

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As a newly appointed Chairman of the Players, I thought it would be a good opportunity to write a little note to you all and talk about future plans for the group.

What a year it has been ! Theatres and cinemas closed, and all of us learning how to cope with lockdown. Not being able to meet friends and family, not being able to go to the pub, but of course all for a very good reason. I do hope none of you have suffered from COVID and you and your families have been able to stay safe. As I am now saying to people…’well, I’ve got this far…..’

But do you sense some optimism in the air? The latest period of lockdown and the wonderful and impressive rollout of the vaccination programme which already seems to be having an impression is giving us all hope for better times to come.

So it is for the Players. Throughout the past year your committee has stayed in touch and made sure the group somehow survived. Of course, we have been unable to meet or put on productions, but we are still here! The recent ‘virtual’ AGM went well and it was good to see old friends and faces and gave us hope for the future. You may be aware that The Players were due to celebrate their 50th Anniversary this year, but of course we were unable to fulfil any plans we had. But we’re not going to let a little thing like a global pandemic stop us now!

First of all I must thank the retiring Chairman, Jenny, for all her work over, believe it or not, the past four years. Her enthusiasm and commitment and the warmth of her personality has meant that we were able to present a number of productions over that period. Lots of fun, lots of new people involved – a lot of work – has kept drama alive in Bovey Tracey. Let’s be honest, who could say ‘No’ if Jenny asked you to help out! Since our eviction from the Town Hall it’s been a difficult time for the Players and Jenny’s drive and efficiency has been so important.

We now have a new committee, being myself, Jenny Connelly, Dave Cartwright, Pam Meadows, Terry Nickels, Mark Godwin and Chris Towle. My thanks to them all for standing, and we now all have to work hard to put The Players back on the map!

So, what of the future? Providing all goes well and we don’t get lockdown again and places continue to re-open, we would hope to be able to put on a production of Blackadder at The Dolphin in October.  In addition we will be pursuing the possibility of performing some old fashioned street theatre with a ‘Mummers’ play which can be done anywhere, and by anyone! Someone has also suggested a ‘flash mob’ to present in the town which would need lots of mad people who don’t mind making a fool of themselves – which sounds a lot of fun.

We will need lots of love and support from our membership to make things happen so do get in touch if you would like to get involved. The Bovey Players have been around for 50 years, let’s start the next 50 years with a bang!

All the best,

Nigel Gillingham.

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Humble Boy Review

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‘HUMBLE BOY’

The Players recently presented the play ‘Humble Boy’ by Charlotte Jones at the Dolphin Hotel, Bovey Tracey.

Felix Humble (Will Meadows), a theoretical physicist, comes home to his family home in the Cotswolds to attend his father’s funeral. The story does not get off to good start as he fails to turn up at the funeral to give an eulogy for his father, which does not impress his rather domineering mother Flora (Jenny Connelly). She has been having an affair for years with George (Mark Godwin), the owner of a local coach company, who is also the father of Rosie (Katy Bringloe) with whom Felix had an affair seven years ago and produced a child. This awkward situation is overseen by Flora’s rather put upon friend Mercy (Rachel Albon) and surprisingly Jim the gardener (Nigel Gillingham), who is an enthusiastic beekeeper.

The play is described as a gentle comedy about broken vows, failed hopes and the joys of beekeeping.

This was the first time the Players had benefited from the skills and knowledge of a professional director. Louisa Wilde is a local theatre director and singing teacher and was able to bring these skills to both the Players and the production – for which The Players are extremely grateful.

Louisa was a great support to Will Meadows in his first major role with the Players, especially as he had such an enormous part to learn! Will was supported by a strong cast with fine performances all round, all of whom  benefited from Louisa’s guidance and experience. Fortunately, there was very little for prompt Margaret Wilson to do and professional levels of lighting were provided by Alan Pewsey and Sam Bovey, with Kenneth Swan providing his usual high standards in sound. Costumes were provided and overseen by Chris Towle.

There many twists and turns to the story: comedy, pathos and even a few tears. If you want to know the outcome, you will have to read the script but it will be worth the effort!


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Awards All Round

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At our AGM on Wednesday 28th March, the Players were pleased to award a cheque to our chosen charity of the year – The Devon Freewheelers. This was presented by our chair, Jenny Connelly and received by one of their local riders, Mr Robert Meadows.

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And then the cast of ‘A Candle for Elvis’ were presented with their Adjudicator’s Award from the Dawlish one-act festival for their dramatic entrance at the end of the play! The award was presented by Freda Welton (left). Cast from L-R – Terry Nickels, Margaret White, William Meadows, Sam Bovey – sadly Lisa Huet and Mark Dunn, who directed the play were unable to be at the presentation.


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‘Waving Goodbye’ Tuesday 5th September

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PRESS RELEASE
Waving Goodbye

A play by Andrew Shakeshaft
Presented by Tree Shadow Theatre Productions

Dolphin Hotel, Bovey Tracey 5th September 2017 7:30pm

Waving Goodbye; Burkha or jeggings? Twisting fast-paced black comedy.
**** Remote Goat “a production which has much to offer” “Deeply moving”

Views from the Gods “Funny and Moving”
Pick of the Fringe Award Bedfringe 2017

Waving Goodbye is an emotionally charged black comedy which asks fundamental
questions about existence and our relationships with each other.

“All those people who died young; you’ve got their life, you’ve got the chances they
never had and what are you doing with it?”

Tree Shadow Theatre put out a call for new, contemporary scripts that didn’t fight shy of exploring big issues and what it is to be a young woman in today’s world. This two-
hander comedy was the outright winner.

After debuting at the Camden Fringe, Waving Goodbye has been performed in Exeter,
Monmouth, Seaton, Bristol, London and the Bedfringe. Our performances in Exeter this year for the From Devon with Love Festival played to a sold-out audience and Waving Goodbye was awarded Pick of The Fringe by Bedfringe. Tree Shadow Theatre look forward to bringing Waving Goodbye back to home turf in Devon for a special one-off performance in Bovey Tracey.

Directed by Anita Parry (What Would Helen Mirren Do?)
Cast: Lucy Theobald and Louisa Wilde
Playwright: Andrew Shakeshaft
Tickets £6
Running Time 50mins
Email: info@treeshadow.co.uk

“A true masterpiece of theatre” Last Embrace, Broadway Baby *****

“A fascinating examination of the tension between appearance and reality” – How Well You Know Me, Somerset Gazette

“I’m no theatre critic, but what struck me was how the entire audience was completely absorbed by the drama” Audience review

“An inspiring play that deserves a wider audience” Audience review, Hard Like Stone


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While you’re here….

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At the moment we’ve just finished our production of ‘Curtain Up!’ by Peter Quilter. We performed the play at ‘The Dolphin’ however here’s some interesting news about another proposed venue in

 


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2017 Lone Star

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LONE STAR by James Maclure Is a gritty comedy – set in the back of “Angels Bar”, Texas, late 70s – with a cast of three very colourful characters!

Here is how the author describes them……

Roy (James Harper)

Roy is lean, tough with beginnings of a beer gut. Uneducated, belligerent, his army service has nearly given him a sense of irony. He voted Nixon, likes John Wayne movies and thinks Raquel Welch is a great actress. Love of his life – his 1959 pink Thunderbird convertible.)

Ray (Mark Godwin)

Ray is his younger brother. Slope-shouldered, sloth-like, slowwww. He has no idea what irony is. Wears a John Deere hat. Probably sleeps in it.

Cletis (Mark Albon)

Cletis is a friend of Ray’s. A wide-eyed asshole. His life should have been terminated in high school. He married the first girl he dated that didn’t spit on him. She married him because of his fathers appliance store. He works there. Get’s lost in the stock room. Has a plastic pocket pencil holder. Sleeps with it.


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2016 Allo Allo

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It has been a sad week with the announcement of the of death of Gorden Kaye – the original Rene Artois. We still all sit about and have a giggle whenever we discuss last years Player’s production of Allo Allo. They must have had a ball filming the originals and Gorden will be remembered with a smile.

So here are some pictures from our Allo Allo, thanks Bim. Coming soon will be news of our next production, which will be coming up in March and is currently in rehearsal.

Photos courtesy of Bim Photography

Allo-Allo-71 Allo Allo -26 Allo Allo -18 Allo Allo -13
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Good Moaning everybiddy


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2016 Allo Allo

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‘Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once….’  The Bovey Tracey Players are delighted to present the popular wartime comedy ‘Allo ‘Allo, by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft.  This uproarious comedy is based on the hugely successful British television series, and has a special place in British Comedy history. It relates the adventures of a hapless cafe owner, René, in occupied France, his wife, the tone deaf Edith, and two waitresses Yvette and Mimi, who by his own admission he enjoys being nice to!

Hiding stolen paintings for the Germans and British airmen for the resistance add to the confusion and chaos that ensues.  The cast includes all the favourite characters including the austere Herr Flick and his side-kick Helga, Michelle of the Resistance, bungling Sergeant Crabtree, master of disguise Monsieur Leclerc, lady-loving Captain Bertorelli, Lieutenant Gruber and his little tank, the ever youthful Colonel Von Strohm and the new General Von Schmelling, who all the other officers want to impress!

As you see, all the usual suspects and characters are there, but…. Will the long distance duck take off? Will Crabtree ever learn to speak French? Will the British airmen leave René’s café? Will Edith ever sing in tune?


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The 2016 Players Treasure Hunt – a very pleasant afternoon

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The Treasure Hunt took place on a sunny afternoon in Newton Abbot on Sunday 11th September. Anna and Andrew provided a good mix of relatively straightforward clues, together with some more obscure ones. The 11 teams that took part enjoyed the challenge, followed by a pleasant meal at The Dolphin Hotel in the evening. This year’s winners were Lisa and Mark, closely followed by Ann  and Nigel. Lisa and Mark now have the privilege of setting the clues for next year’s Treasure Hunt.

The committee would like to thanks Anna and Andrew (and not forgetting Sparky the dog!) for setting the hunt and keeping us on our toes with some fiendishly simple looking but very tricky clues – well I say they were tricky because I got them wrong!


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2016 Departure

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Departure Play Lustleigh Village Hall

Stranded in an airport lounge during the inevitable delay of a holiday flight to Spain, Rosemary – “I’m a one-parent family, you see” – and her carbon-copy, not-very-bright daughter, Mandy, draw the reluctant Dennis and Shelia Tippit into a conversation. Sheila has suggested a holiday to try to right her ailing marriage; Rosemary is looking for a husband for Mandy.

The comic tone of the play shifts continually between Rosemary’s malapropisms and Dennis’ grimly humorous bigotry with the close of the play finding Rosemary unmoved by the chaos she has caused and Dennis near to a nervous breakdown!

A very popular comedy, still frequently performed today, in which the humour masks deep seated problems. A play about communication skills in which a very optimistic mother and daughter meet a very pessimistic man and his depressed wife.

Based on the author’s experiences of being stuck at Gatwick airport in the eighties.


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Review: The Cemetery Club

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The Cemetery Club

A poignant and heart-warming comedy.

The Bovey Tracey Players presented ”The Cemetery Club” By Ivan Menchell at Bovey Tracey Town Hall 27″‘ – 30″‘ May.

Coming after the wacky and anarchic ”Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Gnomes”, the Players Spring production is by contrast a gentle and thoughtful observation on the nature of bereavement, grief and the difficulty experienced in moving on after the passing of a loved one.

The play focuses on the lives of Ida, Lucille and Doris, three Jewish Widows in 19805 New York who have formed themselves into the titular club by meeting once a month for lunch before heading off to tend to their late husband’s graves.

The status quo is threatened however when Ida begins a tentative romance with Sam, another local widower.

Directed by Freda Wilson, a stalwart of the amateur theatre scene, this was a polished production well up to the Players usual high standard with a simple and effective set which alternated between Ida’s modest apartment and the local cemetery with lighting and sound restrained as befitted the tone of the play.

Jenny Connelly, as Ida, gave a wonderfully understated performance as a woman desperate to move on in her life but wracked with guilt and the thought of doing so.

Kirsty Munro’s Lucille was entertainingly larger than life but conveyed the sense of heartbreak that was obviously just under the surface.

Margaret White (in her acting debut) was a delight as the prim and ”buttoned-up” Doris refusing to relinquish the memory of the husband she loved so much. Terry Nickels gave a sweet natured and sympathetic performance as Sam and the scenes between he and Ida as their uncertain romance started to blossom were highlights of the production.

And finally Helen Drinkall as Mildred, another of Sam’s ”admirers”, whose appearance was all too brief, was very funny as a gleeful but totally unwitting fifth wheel.

An excellent script, all witty one liners, backhanded compliments, and pithy put downs, was done justice by the cast, maintaining convincing American accents throughout, and engaged the audience right from the beginning through to the bittersweet but ultimately optimistic denouement.

The front of house team was uniformly excellent, as we have come to expect from a Players production and the slick and capable backstage crew ensured everything ran smoothly on stage.

If this is to be, as believed, the Players final performance in the Bovey Tracey Town Hall before it is sadly sold then they can at least take comfort that they are leaving this particular space on a high.

An excellent production and congratulations to all concerned.


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Crutons Win……. Again!

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Crutons Win……. Again!

Our annual quiz was won yet again by the Crutons – well done to them. There were 16 number  teams taking part this year and a good time was had by all with chips at half time, as per tradition. This event raised over £200 for our chosen charity, which this year is the Bovey Youth Cafe.

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Next years quiz will be set by ‘The War Babies” Alf Price’s team who were chosen to set the quiz after winning the draw for this – a new way of choosing the setters as the Crutons have won the quiz SO many times! So folks, next year expect questions on country music!

 


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2015 Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Gnomes

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Photo courtesy of Bim Photography Sherlock posters -3 16 x 12 Photo courtesy of Bim Photography sherlock holmes -83 Photo courtesy of Bim Photography sherlock holmes -44 Photo courtesy of Bim Photography sherlock holmes -26 Photo courtesy of Bim Photography sherlock holmes -72 Photo courtesy of Bim Photography sherlock holmes -121 Photo courtesy of Bim Photography sherlock holmes -152 IMG_0599
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Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson

A spectacular play written by a local ‘young’ lad called Bim.  This original bit of script writing had them falling about in the aisles.

This funny and original play had all the usual characters including Sherlock and Dr Watson, the evil Moriarty, Mrs Hudson and some more extravagant characters such as Hugh Jarce, Thirsty Kirsty and a cow called Pat!

This was sure to put a smile on any ones face.  Hopefully one day Sherlock Holmes might make a return to solve another dastardly crime.

Photos courtesy of Bim Photography


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2014 Dad’s Army

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Dad’s Army will be on from 15th to 19th October 2014. Don’t miss this classic collection of 3 episodes performed with a large cast production. “Don’t panic” ticket dates will be announced nearer the time.


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2013 It Runs in the Family

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Read Time:30 Second

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Photos courtesy of Bim Photography

Set in the doctor’s common room of a London Hospital, Dr David Morton is rehearsing his speech for the prestigious Ponsonby Lecture, which could lead to his knighthood, when in bursts an old flame, hotly pursued by her (their?) daughter, who is hotly pursued by the police.

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Additional photos by Nigel Gillingham


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2013 Little Voice

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Read Time:59 Second

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“John and I have just come back from The Bovey Players production of Little Voice.  There is a 14 year old girl, Orla Harper, playing LV, and she is stunningly brilliant. She has the most amazing voice, and I really think NCS should go to see her!! I had shivers going down my spine, and had tears at the end, so a show for everything and everyone! It is on tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, and I do urge people to go and see it. I think she will be the talk of the town. The rest of the cast are very good too!” Jane Midgley.

Little Voice was probably one of our best plays for a while and a huge success. The above email was circulated by Jane and summed up what most other members of the audience thought. Juliet directed a small but talented cast and what a voice Orla has. We have a star in our midst! Bernie and his crew did an amazing job with the set and special effects as always. It certainly was electric!


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Quiz Night Results

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Read Time:17 Second

quiznightThe quiz was set by the Croutons, last years winners, which was very enjoyable and the questions fair.  Quiz was won by Phil Page’s team who ‘s prize is to set the quiz for next year. We raised £220 on the night from entrants fee and the raffle. This years charity is the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team – Ashburton


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2012 The Long and the Short and the Tall

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Read Time:1 Minute, 18 Second

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‘The Long and the Short and The Tall’ by Willis Hall was presented at Bovey Tracey Town Hall from the 24th to the 27th October 2012. The play was directed by David Wilson.

The play tells the story of a small British patrol in the Malayan jungle in the Second World War just before the Japanese invaded the peninsula and eventually Singapore. On a routine patrol they take refuge for a short break in an abandoned miners hut.

The play illustrates the dilemmas faced by the soldiers and their NCOs and the tensions that arise between a mixed bag of reluctant heroes who don’t really want to be there. The situation becomes more complicated when they capture a lone Japanese soldier, and the decision has to be made as to what to do with him.

This was a strong performance well up to The Players usual standard, and the Director had assembled a very capable cast who illustrated clearly the mundane side of soldiering as well as the very real horrors of jungle warfare.

A simple but effective set showed the action well and the different personalities of the different members of the patrol were well portrayed by the cast with some very realistic accents. Black humour made the audience laugh at times and the drama of the situation kept them involved throughout the performance. A good addition to the canon of the Players work.

Photos courtesy of Bim Photography


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Radio Days

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Read Time:44 Second

The Players production of ‘Radio Days! played to a capacity audience
on May 19th at The Dolphin Hotel. The audience was able to enjoy ‘Dick
Barton – Special Agent’, with some very misogynist comments from
Dick himself and the delights of ‘Julian and Sandy’ from ‘Round the
Horne’ An evening about 1950’s radio couldn’t pass without a mention
of ‘The Archers’ and Dan and Doris had a difficult time when the heifers
got out and additional problems with a very noisy dog! The comedy
continued with a double dose of ‘The Goon Show’ which showcased
the Players talents for a range of silly voices. A contribution form Tony
Hancock was an additional bonus.

The evening was further enhanced with some delightful songs of the
time from Fay Churchill and some traditional ‘rock and roll’ from the
resident ‘House Band’ which really had the whole place jumping.

 


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2011 Fahrenheit & Celsius

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Read Time:1 Minute, 8 Second

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The recent play performed by the Bovey Tracey Players,”Fahrenheit and Celsius” by James Gillingham, is very topical and also has a local connection. The author grew up locally and is also the son of Ann, chairman of the Players and Nigel who has directed the production.

No doubt the issues and frictions encountered by local people when wind turbines are to be erected in their countryside will be experienced in many locations in the future.

The play’s five characters are strongly portrayed. Yvette, the fading TV presenter is played with flair and great style by Kirstyn Munro. Jerome, portrayed by David Scott, who is totally opposed to the “white monstrosities” gives a strong and commanding performance, and his relationship with his daughter, Laura, shows paternal concern and uncertainty. Laura, played with great sensitivity by Jenny Connelly, has formed a relationship with David, played with confused exasperation by Mark Dunn. The comedy content is expertly delivered by Alex, portrayed by David Cartwright, whose attempts to help his friend David don’t always go to plan.

Overall this was an entertaining and interesting production with excellent special effects by stage, sound and lighting crews. Congratulations to all concerned.

Photos courtesy of Bim Photography


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2010 The Memory of Water

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Read Time:1 Minute, 22 Second

Shelagh Stephenson’s 1996 play The Memory of Water explores the fractured relationships between three sisters on the eve of their mother’s funeral.

David Wilson’s production with the Bovey Tracey Players gave the good-sized audience plenty to enjoy with moments of both excellent comedy and plausible and affecting pathos.

Jenny Connelly played Mary the eldest of the three sisters with an air of weary sadness and it is to her credit that the scenes shared with both her lover, performed with admirable confidence by Mark Dunn and the ghost of her late mother, played with an affecting melancholic tone by Liz Parr, gave an altogether different, more vulnerable side to the character that was hidden in the scenes with her sisters.

The two younger sisters were performed by Su Kaye as Theresa and Lisa Huet as Catherine both of whom gave contrasting but equally impressive interpretations of these pivotal characters, the latter giving the play some vital energy and comic relief.

The production had many highlights including a wonderful scene between Teresa and her husband Frank, who was played with clarity and perfectly judged restraint by Mark Godwin, but was never more moving than in its final moments as Mary, unable to escape the persistent, eroding effects of her own memories, prepares to face the remainder of her life alone.

This was an excellent play very well performed by its cast; a brave choice perhaps for a local drama group but one that was amply rewarded.

I look forward to 2011 and another successful season by the Bovey Tracey Players, beginning with its traditional pantomime ‘Dick Whittington’ directed by Juliet Harper.


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2010 Suddenly At Home

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A man schemes to murder his wealthy wife for the love of another woman the sister, an actress friend or the au pair? Victim and victimized become intertwined in this startling drama.

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2009 The Price To Pay

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David Wilson directed our spring production, a thriller called “The price to pay”. This play was entered into the South Devon Drama Federation Festival and the wash-up evening was a great success with a very high standard from all entries. The Players recieved two nominations for best supporting actor – James Harper and Darren Parr, Darren was the lucky recipient of the award for his portrayal of the truculant police Sergeant.

The Players’ latest production in the Town Hall was “The Price to Pay” by Ian Hornby, a thriller in which Laura, an ‘ordinary housewife’,  is kidnapped  by Dianne and Benny to ensure that Laura’s husband Roger,  will help them steal his firm’s payroll.  We haven’t put on a thriller for a long time now, so ‘The Price to Pay’ made a welcome change.  The play was entered for the South Devon Drama Festival.  With a split set – one half Roger and Laura’s suburban house and the other a barn – the director and crew had quite a challenge but the result was a great success and received praise from Peter Reeves the adjudicator.

The cast:  Juliet Harper (Laura), James Harper (Benny), Liz Parkyn (Maria), Darren Parr (Dave), Sarah Mallett (Diane) and Jenny Connelly (Carol).   The cast was a mixture of experienced actors and relative newcomers to the Town Hall stage (this was only Jenny’s second appearance with us) and also welcomed David Wilson to the Players as Director.  Although it was his first time Directing with us, David is an ‘old hand’ at directing and acting with TOADS and other groups.  Thank you David.

Peter Reeves was very complimentary about the whole production and awarded Darren ‘Best Supporting Actor’ at the ‘Wash-up’ last Sunday.  Congratulations to all.


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2008 Blue Remembered Hills

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The Players’ Autumn production for 2008 was ‘Blue Remembered Hills’ by Dennis Potter, presented in the Town Hall at the end of October. Set in the Westcountry in the Summer of 1943, it is the story of seven children – convincingly played by adults! Juliet’s creative direction allowed the audience to immerse themselves in the play and forget that they were not actually watching seven year olds upon the stage! It made for uncomfortable watching at times as the different characters of the children were so believable and consistently played that we were often able to empathise with them. The actors threw themselves into the role, quite literally in some cases, and how some of them did not get hurt is amazing! Using real children at the start and close of the play was a powerful tool which added to the poignancy of the ending with such effectiveness that the audience was mesmerised and for some time just sat in their seats, in quiet reflection. Congratulations must go to Juliet for another stunning production and to her talented cast.

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2008 Outside Edge

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Read Time:1 Minute, 42 Second

We have Nigel Gillingham to thank for the Spring production. Due to unforeseen circumstances we could not put on Farenheit and Celsius as originally planned so Nigel bravely stepped in and offered to direct Outside Edge by Richard Harris, and what a success it was!

A real ‘bums on seats’ comedy; Outside Edge attracted an audience of more than 350 over its four night run, all of whom went out with smiles on their faces. It also gave us the opportunity to welcome some new faces to the Players’ stage and also welcome back some familiar faces from past productions – returning to us after many years. Of course it was also a pleasure to see some of our stalwart ‘regulars’. Sarah Mallett who played Maggie is a newcomer to the players, as is Su Kaye who played Sharon.

We hope that these were the first of many appearances on the Bovey stage. Darren Parr made a welcome return after his last appearance in ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ two years ago. More recently we have become used to seeing Bob, Kevin and Bim appearing in Pantomime so it was good to see them in a straight play (after 17 years for Kevin!), whereas Liz has recently become a more familiar figure at the piano at our cabarets – nice to see you acting again Liz! Kirsten last appeared on stage for the Players in ‘Charlie’s Aunt’ as a teenager!

It is great to have her back on stage in a superb performance as Mim, appearing undaunted by such a demanding role. Timing is of the essence in such a complicated play and this was seemingly effortlessly achieved, giving a slick and pacey production. This would not have been possible without the convincing sound effects which, together with Bernie’s set (complete with very realistic grass), added to credibility of the evening. We have come to expect a professional standard from the Players and certainly this production did not disappoint – congratulations to everyone! ……….. Patricia Berry


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2007 Bouncers

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Bouncers was our Autumn production for 2007 and our entry into the SDDF festival. All four actors received nominations for best supporting actor, Mark Godwin, David Cartwright, Michael Geldard and the eventual winner, Sean Arberry. Well done to all and of course to the Director, Juliet harper.


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2006 Crosswords

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Three one act plays, very different in style but with a linking theme of confusion, loss and distress, caused by words, spoken and unspoken. The Monkey’s Paw is a creepy tale of avarice, curses and ghosts, a warning to us all to be happier with our lot. Early Blight, a short play from the Deckchairs collection, is about the manipulation of another person’s life. And lastly, Sliced was written by James Gillingham, a member of the Players. It is a moving account of life after a death, a time when we realise that we didn’t ask enough questions or give enough answers, when we wish we had talked a bit more about the things that mattered to us.


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