2016 has been a successful year for Droitwich’s Norbury Theatre. The theatre’s chairperson Anne Lane reflects on the last 12 months and what the Friar Street venue has achieved.
WE DO our best to come up with a programme that appeals to all ages and members of our local community.
Although we love to try and ‘ring the changes’ tradition sometimes holds sway, and what better way to start the year with the British tradition of pantomime – try explaining it to someone from abroad! ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which we staged in January is probably far more popular these days since Disney produced the wonderful musical, ours was in traditional panto style and loved by audience and cast alike.
In early spring we produced the traditional farce Cash on Delivery by Michael Clooney which had all the usual elements needed, doors opening and closing, false identities and I hate to say it but even ‘falling trousers’. The audience loved it and we had complaints about aching sides!
For our summer musical – another tradition – Dolly Levy took centre stage in ‘Hello Dolly’. Beautifully costumed with fabulous music and enthusiastic cast, it proved the favourite of many.
Before holiday seaason began we headed ‘Up Pompeii’ – a stage play based on the Frankie Howard television series. This show was new to many of our younger friends but they absolutely loved it!
During a busy summer there were three shows in rehearsal and auditions for Cinderella – the pantomime for January 2017.
In September we welcomed The Malvern Hills District Brass Band to stage Paul Allen’s ‘Brassed Off’ – a first for us and them. Based on the screenplay it tells the tale of a Yorkshire colliery band and the mining industry during the 1980s . The band were very much a part of the action and had to interact with the actors, playing both on and off stage, the actors had to ‘play’ instruments and pulled it off so well it was almost impossible to determine who was miming and who was not. The audiences loved it so much it was a sell-out.
The ‘House Full’ sign went up again in October when ‘Sister Act’ arrived. Set in America, it centred around nightclub singer Delores who witnessed a gangland killing and was placed in a convent as a ‘safe house’ by the police department. Short of money and parishioners the Mother Superior and Monseigneur reluctantly resigned themselves to closure until Delores transformed the choir into a ‘must see’ act, providing a feelgood finale where the church generates enough cash to survive. Again this was loved equally by the cast and audience alike.
The third sell-out in a row saw the Youth Team bring classic ‘Grease’ to the stage. This ever-popular show proved we have tremendous talent waiting in the wings to ensure the future of the theatre.
Once a month we entertain our youngest audience members with a short children’s theatre show for two to eight or nine-year-olds. If you have little ones to entertain, give it a go – and make sure you book tickets early as we usually sell out those performances as well.
As well as the theatre, we also brought cinema to Droitwich once a month, including opera and ballet from the best opera houses in the world.
We also welcomed two play festivals and many other local societies to use our stage.
So what now? Well the pantomime ‘Cinderella’ opens in a fortnight, running from January 13 to 15,19 to 22 and between 26 and 28.
In the spring we have Agatha Christie’s ‘The Hollow’ and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ will be our summer musical, with rehearsals starting after the panto run.
Auditions for ‘History Boys’” by Alan Bennett will take place in February.
We always welcome new members in all our departments it’s a busy theatre and there’s always something going on, even if it’s just maintenance.
But if you are planning on coming to see Cinderella book early we might well sell out!
Have a happy new year and we hope to see you soon.
Visit http://www.norburytheatre.co.uk/ or call 01905 770154 for more and tickets.
