Parish Players
LATEST NEWS - our 2011 Production will be Rodgers and Hammerstein’s favourite musical ‘Carousel’. Shows will run from 12-16 April 2011 at Olveston Parish Hall. Music rehearsals start on 4 October at 7.30 at the Hall. New members of all ages will be very welcome for this exciting show.
Further details from: Director – 01454 413887 Chairman – 01454 413009
THE GONDOLIERS - our production for 2010 - had its triumphant final night on Saturday 6th March 2010.
Check out the Photo Galleries on this website to find lots of pictures of the production!
THE GONDOLIERS or THE KING OF BARATARIA
The Gondoliers was premiered at The Savoy Theatre in December 1889 and has been a favourite Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera ever since. The Parish Players production was set in 1750 with an exciting set design, by Andy Black, of Venice in its heyday, including gondolas, cleverly designed to accommodate some of the cast's entrances and exits. The frills and furbelows of eighteenth century costume, organised by Gill Olewicz who also played Casilda, made a great change from the chaps worn in Oklahoma last year. Jill Harris as choreographer had the challenge of creating a Spanish Cachucha with castanets and graceful gavottes. Andy Black and Judy Jones were cast as the comedy duo, the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro, Mike Jones and Philip Savage portrayed the vibrant, mandolin-playing Gondoliers, Guiseppe and Maro, famous for taking ‘A pair of sparkling eyes', whilst Lynn Shelley and Linda Chappell as Gianetta and Tessa explained all in ‘When a merry maiden marries'. The fly in the ointment, the menacing Don Alhambra with resonances of the Spanish inquisition, was played by Mike Speake, providing the essential dramatic tension. Mike Belsten as the romantic Luiz completed the principal cast.
As always Keith and Norma Richards were kept busy collating the unusual historic props. The music covered a range of styles from lilting ballads to Spanish cadenzas. With Chloe Allsop Jones as Musical Director and Linda Evans as Director, the whole Company succeeded triumphantly in giving audiences throughout the first week of March 2010 an outstanding musical treat.
In 2009, OKLAHOMA! was our sell-out production
In March 2009, the Parish Players presented Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! The production played to full houses each night. Audiences were greatly entertained by the acting, singing and dancing talents of our local cast and were impressed by the professionalism put into such songs as Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin', The Surrey with the Fringe on Top and People Will Say We're in Love.
History of the Parish Players
The eventful life of the Parish Players began in the 1960s, as a drama group in the Olveston and Tockington WI, winning awards in various thespian competitions and writing their own material with considerable success - such as the spectacular ‘Pageant for Queens' to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Perhaps the most striking event was in 1980 when they took part in a festival of entertainment at the Colston Hall, winning the Avon County competition of Scene 80. As time passed and members left the district and so on, a few men were co-opted to join the team and so was born the Company which became known as the Parish Players. Their first production was an old time music hall written and devised by talented members of the community. The Show seemed to strike a chord and the company was encouraged to present a similar format every year, following different themes with exciting results. By now the players were backed by a hardworking team of enthusiasts backstage. The rush to buy tickets every year almost became an embarrassment, with two or three days booked solid within hours of the box office opening.
By the year 2000 however, it was becoming difficult to find authors. A millennium play ‘Marking Time', written by Beryl Keay, presented at St Mary's Church, became an inspiration for the Director, Linda Evans, and the Parish Players who appeared in it, to introduce a professionally scripted performance and a production of the ‘Mikado' under the baton of Dr David Shaw received critical acclaim. Once launched in this new concept, an annual show of contrasting styles has materialised ever since. ‘The Pirates of Penzance', ‘The Merry Widow', ‘South Pacific', ‘Guys and Dolls', ‘Fiddler on the Roof', ‘White Horse Inn', ‘My Fair Lady' and 'Oklahoma!' have now established the Company as an experienced, dedicated group in all aspects, willing to take on almost anything!
The Parish Players currently
New members are very welcome. If interested, please get in touch.
Enquiries to Linda Evans, tel. 01454 413887 or to secretary Felicity Hemmett on 01454 415979.
The Parish Players have a Facebook site, which you can check out here. You'll be able to see lots of photos from the last five productions.
If you're interested in reading the Constitution of the Parish Players, you can read it here.
