Southend Shakespeare Company
present
The Killing of Sister George
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
26th - 30th March 2019
present
The Killing of Sister George
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
26th - 30th March 2019
June Buckridge, is Sister George, a district nurse in a radio serial. She lives with Childie, a younger woman who collects dolls. June’s drinking is out of control and the BBC decides Sister George has to be killed off. As her career falters, Mercy, a predatory TV producer, entices Childie away and June is left contemplating the offer of playing a cow in a children’s TV programme! The SSC are delighted to bring this award-winning black comedy to the Dixon Studio.
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Meet Jane Brown from Hadleigh, who won't divulge her age except to say she is young at heart but old enough to know better; and has been with Southend Shakespeare Company for a whopping 50 years this year, alongside co-performer, Sally Lightfoot. They both made their SSC debuts in Comedy of Errors in 1969!
Jane is playing the role of Madam Xenia, a clairvoyant in The Killing of Sister George. |
When did you start to take an interest in theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?
As a child I always loved dressing up and pretending to be someone else. My cousin and I would dress up and act out fairy stories . My first major role was at the age of 8 when I played the leading part in a sketch for the Brownies end of year display . It was about a very naughty girl who would keep walking on the grass at the local park despite the Keep off the Grass signs! I did take part in productions at school and as a teenager I belonged to The People’s Theatre youth group and The Northumberland Experimental Drama Group . I did productions with them as well.
Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama?
Not really although my mum did belong to the W.I. drama group and my cousin is also a member of an Am Dram group.
Have you done any sort of formal training for acting/singing/dancing?
Both of the youth groups to which I belonged did training in voice , movement and improvisation. When I left school I did a joint course which involved two years at Dartington College of Arts , where we did contemporary dance, drama , art and music , and one year at Rolle Teacher Training College , Exmouth.
Do you have any specialist skills – anything from stilt walking to dress-making – which you work into your repertoire?
No
Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your am dram career to date?
Difficult question ... there have been so many ....Viola in Twelfth Night , the Princess in Love’s Labours Lost , Abigail in The Crucible , Queen Margaret in Henry VI ,all when I was much younger, directing with the SSC for Southend Drama Festival and directing other full length productions. More recently The Clown in All’s Well that Ends Well and Miss Prism in The Importance of being Ernest but the highlight is always the play I am involved with at the moment.
How do you earn your living?
I am retired so I am currently a Home Management Executive and Holiday Booking Clerk ( NB I am NOT a housewife . I have never been married to my house!)
Following on from the previous question, has your theatre career ever been useful in your day job, and/or have you ever drawn on your day job for any of your stage activities?
The training I had as a drama teacher has helped with all stage activities.
Are your friends mostly involved in theatre - perhaps even working with you on a regular basis - or do you socialise across a wider circle?
I have a wide circle of friends including ex work colleagues and SSC people . As a Christian I have many friends involved in my own church and other local churches.
Which actor (s) do you most admire and why?
People like John Hurt and Derek Jakobi because half the time you don’t recognise them until the credits come up.
What role would you most like to play and why?
I always wanted to play Celia in ‘As you Like It, it seemed a fun part to play but it was never on the agenda when I was younger and now I am far too old.
Tell us a bit about your part in Sister George.
I play Madam Xenia , a psychometrist ( clairvoyant ) who lives in the flat downstairs. She is a great friend of Sister George and loves to help out whenever she can. I think she is a bit of a busy body.
Any plans for the future, after Sister George?
Not really . We have to wait and see if any more suitable parts come along for old ladies.
Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to others involved in amdram?
No, except don’t be afraid of a pause.
As a child I always loved dressing up and pretending to be someone else. My cousin and I would dress up and act out fairy stories . My first major role was at the age of 8 when I played the leading part in a sketch for the Brownies end of year display . It was about a very naughty girl who would keep walking on the grass at the local park despite the Keep off the Grass signs! I did take part in productions at school and as a teenager I belonged to The People’s Theatre youth group and The Northumberland Experimental Drama Group . I did productions with them as well.
Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama?
Not really although my mum did belong to the W.I. drama group and my cousin is also a member of an Am Dram group.
Have you done any sort of formal training for acting/singing/dancing?
Both of the youth groups to which I belonged did training in voice , movement and improvisation. When I left school I did a joint course which involved two years at Dartington College of Arts , where we did contemporary dance, drama , art and music , and one year at Rolle Teacher Training College , Exmouth.
Do you have any specialist skills – anything from stilt walking to dress-making – which you work into your repertoire?
No
Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your am dram career to date?
Difficult question ... there have been so many ....Viola in Twelfth Night , the Princess in Love’s Labours Lost , Abigail in The Crucible , Queen Margaret in Henry VI ,all when I was much younger, directing with the SSC for Southend Drama Festival and directing other full length productions. More recently The Clown in All’s Well that Ends Well and Miss Prism in The Importance of being Ernest but the highlight is always the play I am involved with at the moment.
How do you earn your living?
I am retired so I am currently a Home Management Executive and Holiday Booking Clerk ( NB I am NOT a housewife . I have never been married to my house!)
Following on from the previous question, has your theatre career ever been useful in your day job, and/or have you ever drawn on your day job for any of your stage activities?
The training I had as a drama teacher has helped with all stage activities.
Are your friends mostly involved in theatre - perhaps even working with you on a regular basis - or do you socialise across a wider circle?
I have a wide circle of friends including ex work colleagues and SSC people . As a Christian I have many friends involved in my own church and other local churches.
Which actor (s) do you most admire and why?
People like John Hurt and Derek Jakobi because half the time you don’t recognise them until the credits come up.
What role would you most like to play and why?
I always wanted to play Celia in ‘As you Like It, it seemed a fun part to play but it was never on the agenda when I was younger and now I am far too old.
Tell us a bit about your part in Sister George.
I play Madam Xenia , a psychometrist ( clairvoyant ) who lives in the flat downstairs. She is a great friend of Sister George and loves to help out whenever she can. I think she is a bit of a busy body.
Any plans for the future, after Sister George?
Not really . We have to wait and see if any more suitable parts come along for old ladies.
Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to others involved in amdram?
No, except don’t be afraid of a pause.
Tickets £15.00
Concessions: £1.50 off
Discounts for SSC members
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Tickets available from the box office 01702 351135 or online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Concessions: £1.50 off
Discounts for SSC members
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Tickets available from the box office 01702 351135 or online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Below: Jane and the rest of the cast in rehearsal
