[T]BTL’s Elders Company are in final rehearsals for their exciting new show, Connect Three. Inspired by current and upcoming plays in the Main House including Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, Sense & Sensibility and Beauty & the Beast, the Elders have teamed up with North Cumbria Scriptwriters to present a quirky quartet of 15-minute plays performed by eight actors on Sun 15 July at 4pm in the Studio.
The first play, Martha & The Monster written by Anne Ginty, sees tensions rise as four amateur actors release their inner animal during rehearsals of their version of Beauty & the Beast. In the next, the scene is set at a village hall meeting of the Jeeves & Wooster Appreciation Society. Written by Kevan France, four passionate committee members have one simple decision to make, but when all choose to chip in at once, this most civilised of societies begins to fracture.
In the third show Bonnets & Curls by John Ward, seven characters greet the audience and each is jostling for attention. But something doesn’t sit right as they all appear to be characters from three different, yet very familiar tales – can the audience work out where they are from? In the final play, As Good As It Gets by Martin Chambers, we join two characters on a bench who have no idea how they got there. As they begin to decipher who, where and why they are there, a third character arrives providing more questions than answers!
Created especially for the over 55s, the Elders Company formed in April 2017 and since their first successful season, have grown from strength to strength; bringing participants into the heart of the theatre, giving them access to TBTL productions, on stage and behind the scenes.
As a member of the company, participants get the chance to watch, be inspired and challenged by the high quality theatre that is presented in the Main House and Studio spaces and have the opportunity to meet cast members as well as creative teams to give them an invaluable insight into the world of theatre.
Theatre by the Lake is delighted to present the culmination of several months of hard work in the spring term by its Elders Company which also sees them perform at the popular outdoor Derwentwater Regatta on Sat 7 July and Sun 8 July, with performances at 12.45 and 2.15 on both days. Learning and participation manager, Dave Cryer said: “It is a huge pleasure to work with and direct the Elders. They are totally committed to their art, eager to learn and always sharing their skills with each other.”
The next 10-week block of work begins in late September. Whether you’re looking for a new challenge, something a bit different or are an aspiring actor, director or writer, if you’re interested in joining the Elders Company, contact learning and participation manager, Dave Cryer by email at [email protected] or call the Box Office on 017687 74411. No previous experience of theatre work or amateur dramatics is required – we just ask for bags of enthusiasm! Connect Three is staged on Sun 15 July at 4pm in the Studio. Tickets are £5.
