Don't Forget!!! Dinner dance Friday 6th Jan 2006

Please ring Ann (90 738 625) to confirm you attendance at our dinner dance and save her a few phone calls.

Our Dinner Dance will once more be held in the Newforge Country Club on:
Friday 6th January, 2006.

Arrival time 7.00 pm – time of meal 7.30 pm.

Cost per head £22.

Dancing to ‘TWO RIGHT’

Kerri Logan

Kerri Logan, one of our leading members who moved to London a few years back has had a bit of a shock.

Kerri was a few hundred metres from her home when she was mugged by two men who kicked her to the floor and then beat her up. They stole her handbag and ran off. Kerri was taken to hospital and thankfully nothing was broken although she was severely bruised.

I am sure you will all join me in wishing Kerri a speedy recovery from all at Barts. We are all horrified Kerri that this could have happened, and hope that you keep your chin up as best you can.

Lots of love from all at Barts

(If you want to text Kerri her number is 07796947771)

Belvoir Players

Some of you be interested to see what the schedule of productions / events is for our friends and colleagues at Belvoir Players in the Belvoir Players Studio. Their Website can be found by clicking HERE and the following is their programme of events for Spring 2006.

January 12th, 13th & 14th 2006
Centre Stage (Youth) -- Christmas production
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Sdapted by Roma Tomelty
A play by Children for Children

February 20th - 25th 2006
The Clarence Players --- Festival Production
Living Quarters by Brian Friel
Friel’s absorbing study of family relationships

February 27th - March 4th 2006
Belvoir Players --- 2 Festival Productions
Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness
Frank McGuinness’ss compelling insight into the plight of three hostages in the Middle East
Kindertransport by Diane Samuels
The poignant and moving story of the life of a young girl who flees Nazi Germany in 1938

March 20th - 26th 2006
Southbank Players
An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley
Priestley’s classic story of a middle class family called to account for its moral crimes

Posting a "Comment"

Some of you mentioned to me during the last week at the Panto that you were unsure of how to post a comment on this site.

IT'S SO EASY!!!

Please don't be shy. All you have to do is click on the blue underlined word "Comments" and then your computer will take you to a screen where you can type in a message relating to that article. You don't even need to put your name if you don't want to and can select "Anonymous" or you can put your name if you are feeling brave!! Then post it and you and everyone else can then read it.

We have had so many visitors coming to this site, particularly over the last few weeks, yet no-one ever leaves any feedback which leaves me feeling very lonely sad and undervalued (cue audience "Awwwwwwww!!" so come on, don't be shy - GET INVOLVED!!

I expect at least 10 comments by Friday!!

Mark

Lady In The Van Readings

Gillian Porter will be holding readings for 'The Lady in The Van' for the Festival on Tuesday 13th Dec and Thursday 15th Dec. Anyone interested should attend.

A synopsis of the play:..

When a decrepit Bedford van grinds to a halt opposite Alan Bennett’s house in Camden Town, little does the writer suspect that its next parking place will be his own garden, where its evil-smelling occupant is to remain for a further fifteen years.
The genuinely eccentric Miss Shepherd is a trained concert pianist, ex-nun and would-be Prime Minister, and is described by the author as “a bigoted, blinkered, cantankerous, devious, unforgiving, self-centred, rank, rude, car-mad cow”.
Forced to turn down his music to her complaints, recharge her van’s flat battery and become her reluctant carer, Alan Bennett uses his vivid observations to create a wonderfully funny play.

Details of readings for other productions, including the proposed summer play will be announced in due course.

The New Fairy on the Block

They say competition is good for business. It keeps employees sharp and keen and gets the best productivity out of them.

But imagine how good for business it was for Mz June Silcock when this year out of the blue her fairy status was stripped from her and she was asked to leave her keys, mobile phone and fairy wand on the desk of the Bart Players!!

"Well I was very shocked", said Mz Silcock, of Stranmillis, "I mean I was in my fairy kitchen one day preparing some potions and spells for the good people of BT9 when I received a scroll delivered by carrier pigeon!! It said that I was to be made Queen of Hearts, By order of the Royal Council of Upper Knockbreda!!"

Mz Silcock said that she was excited by her new role and saw it as a promotion rather than a redundancy. "I see it as a promotion rather than a redundancy" she proclaimed earlier this afternoon in a press conference outside Windmill Farm.

"I am looking forward to baking all these Jam tarts which are a vital part of my job description. When it comes to tarts, everyone knows I can't be beaten!!!!"

Tickets are still available and to find out what happens, please click on our online booking form HERE!!!

See You There!!

And Remember..... IT'S A GOOSE!!!!!

Where no goose has gone before...

Well the Panto is off to a flying start and Wednesday night's audience was fantastic!! To rapturous applause from the cast, our audience sang, danced and laughed their way through the first performance of Mother Goose - led we suspect by the "Donal McReynolds Fan Club" in the form of the girls and boys from Methodist College Belfast. The cast and crew thoroughly enjoyed our audience's performance and thought there were some realy fine moments in what they did!!!

Seriously - a big thank-you from all of us to our opening night audience, whose enthusiasm helped enormously!! As opening nights go it was one of the least stressful I've seen and everything was flawless!!

Mr Terry McDermott has been very busy with his wide angle lens and the fruits of his labours can be found HERE. Unfortunately his fancy camera cannot make any of us look any younger but his pictures are a great momento nevertheless!!

Booking form is still online HERE - Hurry though as I am told there are nights close to sell out.

And remember.... IT'S A GOOSE!!!

Mother Goose and the Thunderbirds are GO!!!

You may be wondering what I'm rattling on about. Thunderbirds are go?? Mother Goose?? How are these two related??

Well for the duration of the performance of Mother Goose (being staged THIS WEEK in the Canon Lyndsay Hall at St Bartholomew's Church off the Stranmillis Road) we have enlisted the help of our very own space age and pint sized stars in the form of the "Children of Barts" AKA the THUNDERBIRDS!!!

They will be helping Mother Goose (Wilfie Pyper) to trek her way (via Amarillo) to retrieving her beautiful talented goose and thereby enabling her to retire, a wealthy (if slightly unattractive) woman.

You NEED to come and see this production so come on, pack your bags and get your tickets bought (by clicking here for an online booking form) - Tickets are selling out fast so you need to get your skates on.

Performances are :

Wednesday 13th December 8.00
Thursday 14th December 8.00
Friday 15th December 8.00
Saturday 16th December 2.30
Saturday 16th December 8.00

IT'S A GOOSE!!!!

Amateur and Northern Ireland Premiere

Many of you will know that Gillian has been trying to gain permission to perform The Lady In The Van by Alan Bennett for festivals.

This year in desperation, on learning it was still not available for amateurs she decided to make a direct appeal to the author himself and..... she received a reply from Alan Bennett's agent and Samuel French to say that special permission had been granted for Barts to perform the play in local festivals. Happy Days!

Casting readings will therefore be held after the panto so work can begin on the script straight after Xmas. This is good news indeed for Barts - Hurrah!!

Mother Goose Rehearsal Change

Gillian Porter has requested that I post the following message regarding Mother Goose :

There will be no rehearsal Thurs 27th Oct.

On Tues 1st November would the following people attend at 7.30 to sort out costumes:

Barney, Michael, Brendan, Ed, Anne Maitland, Sarah, Tess, Terry McDermott and anyone else who is not having a costume made for them.

Generally rehearsals are going well despite the high level of absentees. Can I implore you all to attend rehearsals from now on as there is only a short time until we go on stage. In the meantime learn those lines!

Love Gillian

Gilbert and Sullivan

Hi everybody

Ken has asked me to pass this information along the line. He discussed it originally at the AGM but is now hopeful that we will support the event. Details are as follows:

'WEST YORKSHIRE SAVOYARDS' who specialise in Gilbert & Sullivan performances will be doing a Condcert Performance of 'TRIAL BY JURY' and a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan Songs from their show, in our own St Barts Canon Lindsay Hall on FRIDAY 7/10/2005 AT 7.30PM - ADMISSION £6. I think it might be possible to pay at the door. I will try to clarify that situation during the next day or so.

This year is the 250th Anniversary of the establishment of the Group and at present they are doing a tour of the UK and coming to Belfast at that time. The singers are all of notable reputation and it promises to be an good nights entertainment and worthy of as much support as we can give.

Cheers
June Silcock

Cast list for Mother Goose

MOTHER GOOSE


Cast list

Fairy Queen Barbara Jeffers
Queen of Hearts June Silcock
Idle Jack Garvin Tohill
Old Woman Who lives In a Shoe June McDermott
Mother Goose ?????
Knave of Hearts ???????
Jabberwock Norman Turkington
Mad Max Alan Martin
Catchem Donal McReynolds
Skinnem Terry McDermott
Ermyntrude Kerry Burns
Gertrude Louise McWilliams

Jill Lisa Henderson
Man in the Moon Ron Elsdon

· Moon Monsters - The Leader - Brendan Fegan
o Ed Flanagan
o Michael Fee
o Barney Gadd


The parts of Knave, Jill and Gertrude will be played by Lisa Henderson and Louise McWilliams and someone else! I have tried to give parts to people as far as possible, who were not so busy last year. Queen of Hearts has been written in and the moon monster parts have been extended.

Rehearsals begin on Thursday 29th September.

Mother Goose Update

Further reading for 'Mother Goose' to-night 20/09 in the Minor Hall. All those interested please come along and read.

Great Site this.

June

Dame for a laugh???

Gillian has reported a tremendous response to the attendance at the first read through last night (Tuesday) for this years pantomime, Mother Goose.

There was loads of fantastic "talent" there and she is looking forward to a stunning production.

However she is still looking for more people to come forward and offer their services in what ever capacity they can - be it back stage, front of house, costumes or starring on stage!!

If anyone is interested in any area of this production taking place first week in December, Can they please contact Gillian directly on 02890 666763. She would like to hear exactly what you can do.

Finally, no pantomime is complete without a "Dame". She has auditioned some people already and would like to hear from anyone else who may be interested. So if you are male and have ever wanted to wear wigs and tights and a sock stuffed bra but were always too shy to ask, ring Gillian Porter on 02890 666763

Dale Winton , Widow Twankey, Blackpool 2003

E-mail Facility

Hi Barties

The form below is a useful way of finding out if anything has been added to this site - you will be e-mailed when new articles / comments etc are posted - all you have to do is enter your e-mail address below and click on "Keep It Fresh".

Hope this is useful to some of you - don't be frightened - go ahead!!

Mark

Tell me when this blog is updated

email:

Enquiry

Hi all

I had an e-mail enquiring about membership today on the back of the new website.

She asked about contact details etc - I'm not sure who would contact this person - can someone who would like to contact her please let me know and I'll give you the e-mail address

Many thanks

Mark

Barts by Royal Appointment

(Clicking on this picture will enlarge it for you as with any of the pictures on this site)

Des Loughridge has sent me this very unusual photograph - accompanied by this much appreciated message. Again I think we all agree that we need more info about the event pictured.

Perhaps Barbera or Gillian could give us all a bit more info??

Cheers Des!!

Mark,

Congratulations on getting such an attractive site up and
running. It looks really great and I hope you get plenty of info for it.

Attached is a photo of Barbara's and Gillian's very successful and quickly put together show last summer before a very special audience at Barnett's Park. Barbera & Gillian wrote, cast, directed and acted in a very enjoyable pageant.

Hope you can get this on the website, and again good luck with it.
Des

Tomb with a View 2005

June Silcock has kindly sent various pictures taken during the recent production of "A Tomb with a View" and they can all be viewed by clicking HERE

Christine Martin has kindly sent me the following cast list and information on the production as follows:

CAST

Hamilton Penworthy Barney Gadd
Lucien Tomb Michael Fee
Dora Tomb Lynne Taylor
Emily Tomb June Silcock
Agatha Hammond Anne Maitland
Marcus Tomb Edward Flanaghan
Anne Franklin Louise McWilliams
Peregrine Potter Norman Turkington
Ermyntrude Ash Olivia O'Kane
Monica Tomb Gemma Hughes

The play was a comedy whodunnit and centred around the eccentric Tomb family who gathered for the Will reading of their deceased father Septimus Tomb. One by the one the characters are killed off and at the end of the play only two remain alive.

We played to our own audience in April and took the show to Portrush in August where it was well received. The cast had a great time at Portrush and it would be good to encourage others to produce for Portrush.

I enjoyed producing this play and the cast were terrific and we had good fun. It was a little tiresome keeping rehearsals going from April to August for Portrush but all the Barties took it in their stride and Portrush made it all worth while.

Good luck with the site.
Regards Christine.

If you have anything to add about "Tomb with a View" - photos, stories or additions to info already posted here, please e-mail me - mark.mcguire@btinternet.com

Last Night's AGM

At last night's AGM of Bart Players it was announced that there would be readings for forthcoming productions:

Thurs 8th Sept. at 8.00 pm - "The Gathering", a One Play to be directed by David Sloan and entered for the One Act Play Festivals in November 2005

Tues 13th Sept. at 8.00 pm - "Mother Goose", a pantomime to be directed by Gillian Porter and performed Dec. 7th - 10th , 2005

Clearly work for lots of people.Those wishing to be involved onstage should attend the readings. Those who wish to be involved in other ways should let the Directors know asap.
Contacts:

David Sloan davidsloan@utvinternet.com
Gillian Porter gill50p@hotmail.com

Gillian is keen to have as many people as possible involved in "Mother Goose" so if you wish to be involved in any way please e-mail her detailing in what capacity you think you could help, either back stage, front of house, costumes, props or on stage (performance or music)

Cast lists for "Mother Goose" and "The Gathering" will start to appear here after Tuesday so stay posted!!

Getting Started....A New Term

Firstly, to introduce this website, I thought it would be appropriate to firmly place this website in context.

This website is designed as a place for the Bart Players THEMSELVES to visit regularly, catch up on what is happening, plan what will happen in the future, exhibit pictures and accounts of events, discuss ideas and perhaps realise potential in the sense of community and belonging that an organisation such as Bart's can offer.

The authors of this site are you guys!! I will happily post up anything that anyone feels is valid and useful to effectively do all of these things, from appeals for helpers in various projects right through to rehearsal schedules themselves and details of achievements.

This should serve to "back up" the e-mails and mailings that are provided officially from the Bart Players Committee and hopefully better communicate these for everyone.

At the end of each posting there will be space for people to leave their own thoughts or comments and I hope people will therefore speak up and contribute!

My e-mail address is mark.mcguire@btinternet.com. If you have anything AT ALL you wish to share in the way of information, photographs or articles please do not hesitate to e-mail me. Also if I make any mistakes either in factual or grammatical accuracy don't be frightened to shout out.

Information will therefore follow in the order that it is received. The panto "Mother Goose" is only round the corner and more will follow on that I am sure very shortly...

First rehearsal for this is next Tuesday 13th September at 8.00 sharp where Gillian will have a read-through. Don't you miss it...

In the mean time tell everyone in Bart's about this site and lets get on with it. Here's to Autumn and Christmas Season 2005 at Barts.