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Picture
A Christmas Carol
Southend Drama Society

The Dixon Studio, Southend-on-Sea
​1st-5th December 2015
Picture
Southend Drama Society are gearing up for their forthcoming production of A Christmas Carol and with only a week to go before opening night, they’ve very kindly invited me to come and see them in rehearsal.  The Society must be one of the oldest in the area, having formed in 1946 and still maintains a good membership and performing reputation, with the group being renowned for picking up many awards at the Southend Drama Festival over the years.  Peter Nawrat, who is directing A Christmas Carol, is hugely excited to be putting on this production and even more so because, he tells me, “I think we have almost every single member of the Society involved in this play.  There's a great ensemble feel to the show.”  

With production week being the first week of December, it will certainly inject Southend audiences with some hearty Christmas cheer.  However, there is, I suspect, one member of Southend Drama Society who probably wishes that he could have had a visit from the 'Ghost of Christmas Future' recently; and ironically, it’s the guy who’s playing him.  The reason being that just a few weeks ago, cast member Rick Fiore, had a rather nasty accident involving a circular saw and…erm.. his fingers.  Although things could have been a lot worse, Rick still managed to lose the tip of his forefinger and, even up to this point in time, is still heavily bandaged.  Peter admits that this couldn’t have come at a worse moment for the group.  “Rick is such an integral part of the Society; he is in charge of programmes, the animations and projections we are using for this particular show and also the puppetry,” he explains.  He is confident though that all will be fine come show week.

Most of us are familiar with the Charles Dickens' novel of A Christmas Carol and this script is an adaption, written by ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’ star, John Mortimer, which, Peter tells me, “Is just wonderful”.  It originally premiered at The Barbican Theatre in London in 1994 and was performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Peter says that he has added a lot of his own personal touches to it, such as his own music choices; and also there will be some puppetry involved, in particular the role of Tiny Tim.  “I’ve taken certain parts of the script and stylised them, to give it a more unique feel.  We will also have a cyclorama as a backdrop which will project certain parts of the play - for instance, one of the ghosts.”  I ask Peter if it will be very frightening, bearing in mind that small children may be coming to see it and he assures me that it will be no worse than any of the films I may have seen of A Christmas Carol.   I’m not actually sure that helps, Peter!

Darran Lebeter, who has been a member of the Society for over 12 years and is also the Treasurer of the group, is playing the lead role of Scrooge and admits that it’s probably been one of the toughest roles he’s taken on.  Being just 32 years old, he says that it has been somewhat of a challenge playing the old skinflint.  “I often feel exhausted at the end of a rehearsal and have a headache.”  he tells me.  From what I saw during my visit, Darran seems to have the part off pat and I can’t wait to see what he’s like once he has his full costume adorned.  Darran, who as a day job works in pest control, has had lots of experience since he joined the Society having played Billy in Billy Liar, Paul in Salt of the Earth and most memorably, Prince George in Blackadder and even Blackadder himself, when the Society were the first amateur dramatics group to have permission to take on and adapt the iconic tv comedy.

Gemma Fiore, who has also been with the Society for 12 years, is playing Mrs Cratchett and is really looking forward to show week and especially when her daughters, Daisy (8) and Rose (5), come to see their mum and dad (Rick) in the production.  Gemma, 42, has played some great parts in her time at Southend Drama but says that the role of Beverley in Abigail’s Party has got to be her all time favourite.

Bob Cratchett, the hard done by assistant of the nasty old miser, Scrooge, is played by Paul Jennings, 46, who counts Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth as one of his most favourite parts, along with the part of Tony in Abigail’s Party which he played earlier in the year.

The play is carried along by a Chorus comprising in part of Emma Carlile, Liz Hoskin, Charlie Mellor and Kay Banning who will all narrate the tale.  Kay has also been called on to make most of the costumes for the production.  “I really enjoy making costumes.” she smiles and they do indeed look fabulous.  

Kay has been with the Society for over 40 years and joined as a young woman when her mother, who was already in the group, volunteered her for a part as a maid in one of their productions.  She hasn’t looked back since.  “My dad used to run a drama class at King John School in the evenings when I was a very young girl and if they ever needed anyone extra, I used to go along to help out; but it wasn’t until my mum got me involved with Southend Drama that I started to do it properly.”  Kay has played parts in many productions; one of her most memorable being Anastasia in The Anastasia Files.  She directed the Society’s critically acclaimed production of Blackadder Goes Forth last year at The Palace Theatre which she confides, “Was the hardest production I’ve ever done, but it certainly seemed to have a huge impact.”  

Director, Peter, has himself been a member of the Society for 31 years now having performed and directed many times for them, although he confesses that his most favourite part ever was that of Hector in Lindisfarne Players’ production of The History Boys for which he won fabulous reviews.  He says that he’s really enjoyed directing A Christmas Carol although it has been hard work with such a large cast.  Help has been on hand though with Emma Carlile as his Assistant Director, props being looked after by Bill Peel and during show week the cast will be in the safe hands of John Greenfield as Stage Manager.

Emma, who is a teacher at St Bernards School in Westcliff is also a drama teacher and runs her own children’s drama school called Faces Theatre Arts aimed at 5-18 year olds.  The school only opened in September but already has 17 regular members who are all looking forward to performing their first Christmas concert in December, which Emma even wrote herself; clearly, a lady of many talents.

So I leave Peter, the cast and crew to continue with their rehearsal as I venture out into the cold night air and with just a week until opening night, it certainly looks as though Southend Drama Society is on track to be warming up their audiences with some heartening Christmas spirit next week.  Charles Dickens’ classic tale of redemption, which Southend Drama promise will be full of laughter, thrills and chills will be a perfect start to any family Christmas.   I mean, let’s be honest, it’s not Christmas until you’ve seen A Christmas Carol, is it?

www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call box office 01702 351135


Members of Southend Drama Society in rehearsal for A Christmas Carol
Director Peter Nawrat with Kay Banning
Darran Lebeter
Gemma Fiore
Simon Jones and Darran Lebeter
Paul Jennings
Samantha Lowe
Kay Banning
Southend Drama Society are always happy to take on new members and if you think you would like to join the group, you can go along for free for 3 weeks and then, if you would like to act with them, they ask you to prepare a small audition piece. 

They rehearse on Mondays in Leigh (also Tuesdays in Westcliff when they are rehearsing a production)  
For more info click on their Facebook page here
or website here

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