Summer 2019 Newsletter
I hope you have all managed to have an enjoyable Summer break and are ready for a new season of Gage productions. At the time of writing we are preparing for the September show, our Rehearsed Reading with supper, ably directed by Chris Slater. The show is The Music Lovers by Reggie Oliver, adapted from the quick-moving comedy by Georges Feydeau, playing at the Riddell Hall on Saturday, 14th September. These are always fun social events which family and friends can attend, but as food needs to be ordered in advance please make sure you have confirmed a space and ordered your supper (more details to follow).
Following the September show we are quickly into rehearsals for the November production of Good Things by Liz Lochhead, directed by Debbie Nichols. Please put the dates 28th, 29th and 30th November in your diary and we would love to see you in the audience if you are not already involved with the play. Now is a good time to drum up interest with neighbours, family and friends to see if we can all bring along a few new faces to see our production.
We have had a lot of success within the local community recently. Our last two outings at the Quiz Night at The Duke’s Head in Tadworth have put us into the top 3 places and we received a cash prize each time, always a welcome bonus for the Gage funds after a good evening out. We can’t fit Quiz Nights in alongside rehearsals but will resume them once the November show is over, so watch out for the next invitation – anyone can come along.
You may have seen that we had a Gage Players stall at the main field for the Walton May Pageant, to raise our profile within the community and to engage with people who might be interested in joining or supporting us. We were fortunate that the weather was good and I would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to help on the stall. We were recently delighted to receive a £200 donation from the Pageant Committee and this will go towards some refurb at the Riddell Hall (a new valence round the staging) and the purchase of much-needed new canvas for some of our flats.
The new Performing Arts Library will be up and running by spring 2020; there has already been one training day for trustees and volunteers to learn how to catalogue the theatre and music collections, with more training days to follow. If anyone is interested in taking part in that, and in finding out about other ways of supporting this invaluable community service, Gill Gibbins has more information or you can contact the New Performing Arts Library directly on their website.
Finally and sadly I wanted to mention the passing of two people you may know. Richard Pavy, with whom we liaised over all our Christchurch Hall bookings, had been ill for some time and recently died, as did Barbara Crawley, whom you may have acted alongside. We send our deepest condolences to their families and friends.
On a happier note I hope the good weather continues and I look forward to seeing you with family and friends at our 14th September Rehearsed Reading.
Best Wishes
Anne Henderson
