Dear Everyone,

Isn’t it wonderful to feel cool? I don’t know of anyone who enjoyed the intense
heat we have had – I even liked the thunder storm and rain at night. Let us see
what changes this week brings.

I’ll begin this newsletter with an appeal for someone to direct our Spring play,
which would be performed at the end of April 2024. We have a list of plays
that we would like to perform and have a large acting membership, but we need
directors. We have selected The Nightingales by Peter Quilter for the Spring
2024 production – set in the 1950s, this charming comedy introduces the
Nightingales, members of a theatrical family, who perform more at home than
they do on stage!

Our backstage team is strong, experienced and supportive. Maybe there is
someone who has their own choice of play that they would like to direct – we
are open to suggestions and would willingly read any play that is put forward by
a director. Please contact friends@thegageplayers.co.uk and we will be pleased
to hear from you. We would also like to know of a director for our November
2024 production, which may be Death and the Maiden, by Georgina Reid.

What a successful evening we had on Saturday, 16th September, which began
with your picnic supper followed by two very different rehearsed play readings.
Family and friends came to enjoy and support the Gage, and it was a sociable and relaxed evening seated around tables, with time to chat whilst enjoying our
supper. It was good to see new faces among the last cast and we hope to see
them again in future production.

Our first play reading was Table No 2 from Separate Tables by Terence
Rattigan, directed by Chris Slater and produced by Gill Gibbins. Set in the
early 1950s in a shabby genteel hotel, the many characters showed their true
selves as the story unfolded . . . In contrast our second play reading, Evolution,
written and directed by Pip Rolls, was the latest in a series of comic plays which
seek to clarify aspects of history in a nonsensical manner, and certainly gave us
some surprises and ridiculous explanations. It is a very clever play and the
audience were captivated, wondering how it would end – well, there was an
‘off’ switch – so, easy!

The Gage Invitational Trophy Quiz, which was to be held at the end of
September, has had to be postponed, as there were not enough local drama
groups able to form teams to make it a challenging competition. We will aim
for another date in the New Year.

We realise that holding an event on a Bank Holiday Monday was not a good
idea, as our Poetry and Prose Zoom evening was abandoned when only two of
us turned up. We will resume the evenings after Christmas, when more people
are at home from holidays and are looking for no-cost entertainment from their
armchair in the warm.

Very soon rehearsals will begin for Molly’s Calling, written and directed by Pip
Rolls, to be performed on 23rd , 24th and 25th November 2023. After Covid, with
lockdown and various setbacks, it is so exciting to be able finally to put Pip’s
play on stage. This is our fourth attempt to stage this cunning play, which is set
in a retirement home, with its wonderful residents and their mischievous plans
offering help to those in need by taking from those with plenty. The very
believable characters are colourful and endearing. Many of the original cast are
still available to resume their roles after this long wait, and re-casting has been
put in place for those not able to. However, we need a male for a small part –
do contact us if you would like to take on this character role of a window

cleaner/messenger – friends@thegageplayers.co.uk or perhaps contact Pip
direct.

We are still looking for someone who initially will take the minutes at our
committee meetings and type them up to be circulated amongst the Gage
committee, something which could in time evolve in to the role going by the
name of Secretary for the Gage. We are a friendly group who will make you
welcome and would offer you any guidance needed. Please contact
friends@thegageplayers.co.uk

The dates for your diary are for Molly’s Calling by Pip Rolls – Thursday 23rd ,
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th November 2023, 8pm at the Riddell Hall. Our box
office number is 01737 812 703.

Have a good Autumn, everyone.
Best wishes,

Gay

Gay Weeden
Chair, Gage Committee