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RODSEC - Winter 2015 News
(Details extracted from article that first appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of the Rollestonian)
“Licensed to Trill”
Two tenors for £8.50 – what a bargain!
Reflections on a memorable night
at the opera.
Sunday 11th October, in Rolleston Club
Two super-smart, highly polished Mario Lanzas raised the roof and transformed Rolleston Club into an Opera house. At La Scala-on-Dove, a sell out audience enjoyed two wonderful hours of rapturous ‘popera’ cabaret in the charming and crazy company of the Opera Dudes.
No ordinary operatic duo, the powerful tenors Tim Lole and Neil Allen ripped up the rule book with a bravura act encompassing classical Verdi, Elvis Presley, Lloyd Webber, Chopin…and Frank Spencer! The Opera Dudes comprise a posh former Cambridge scholar and an ex-builder turned international operatic tenor. They have developed a pitch-perfect double act, a classic blend of contrasting characters: the suave straight man comfortably maintaining superiority over a struggling, hilarious artisan. The wonderful piano sketch brought back memories of Morecambe and Wise. Truly, this was brilliant light entertainment.
Thank you to our splendid audience; their enthusiastic response made this a memorable night at the opera.
We are grateful to all those who helped to get the show on the road. People, organizations and business from across the village were instrumental in the delivery of this genuine community experience. Special thanks to our very own ticket masters at Starbucks; they operate an unequalled box office service. Also, our grateful thanks to the management and staff of Rolleston Club, their imagination and efforts make the Club an even more desirable venue. The environment here fosters such a good atmosphere.
In this attractive venue we have promoted most of our entertainments. Live & Local, kindly supported by Staffordshire County Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council, finds the acts that we promote. Full houses are a fitting tribute to their cultural expertise and business acumen.
Being able to enjoy the consummate professionalism of Tim and Neil in this friendly rural setting encourages us, the dedicated RoDSEC team, to deliver more of the same. Our next Live & Local promotion features Mumbo-Jumbo with “Troubadours & Raconteurs” in Rolleston Club on Sunday 10th April. Before this, we will be staging Murder Mystery 3, in the same venue, on Sunday 31st January. By popular demand, The Phoenix Theatre Group returns with another mysterious winter whodunit. To avoid disappointment, be sure to purchase your tickets in good time.
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RODSEC - Autumn 2015 News
(Details extracted from article that first appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of the Rollestonian)
Outline of another Thrilling Programme
The team that brought to you the sensational buttock-busting Zulus, the velvety
healing salve of Isla St Clair and cunningly contrived murder mysteries have
concocted another thrilling programme for your enjoyment during the longer
evenings. To avoid disappointment, be sure to note these gems in your diary:
• “Licensed to Trill” by Opera Dudes (Live & Local) – 7:30pm Sunday 11th October
in Rolleston Club. Tickets £8.50
• Community Carol Singing Round the Village Christmas Tree – 6:30-7:30pm Friday
11th December, Almshouses lawn
• Murder Mystery 3 by Phoenix Theatre Group – 7:30pm Sunday 31st January in
Rolleston Club
• “Troubadours & Raconteurs” by Mumbo Jumbo (Live & Local) – 7:30pm Sunday 10th
April in Rolleston Club. Tickets £8.50
More details to follow.
Next Rolleston on Dove Special Events Committee Meeting – 7:30pm Wednesday 23rd
September in the OGSR
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RODSEC - Summer 2015 News
(Details extracted from article that first appeared in the Summer 2015 issue of the Rollestonian)
Entertainment Season 2014/2015
Reflections on another Successful Season
William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”
Performed by Two Gents Productions
Sunday 12th October 7:30pm in Rolleston Club
Tickets @ £8.50 each
Two Gents Productions are a London-based Zimbabwean touring company whose rollercoaster approach to Shakespeare has bowled over audiences across the country.
“The Taming of the Shrew” was something of a new departure for us, it is quite some time since we last promoted legitimate theatre, and the very first time we have brought ‘The Bard’ to Burnside. What at first felt like a risky departure did in fact turn out to be an exhilarating excursion for an audience of nearly a 100. Two actors and a bare stage were all it took to create an energetic, entertaining and exciting version of this Shakespeare classic.
The performances given by two young actors, Dilek and Isaac, were outstanding, and the interpretation of the play, which features up to 40 different characters, was simply staggering, quite breath-taking. The artful use of gesture to indicate change of character helped make the comedy more accessible, less impenetrable. Inventive dialogue with the audience, sometimes catching out the snoozing theatre-goer, was hilarious.
Theatre director, Arne Pohlmeier, is a fastidious professional, determined to create an intimate atmosphere by carefully placing the audience within touching distance of the actors. We discovered that the modular staging could be arranged to build a platform at exactly the same height as the stage; a sizeable thrust provided an ideal performing area. Lengthy rehearsal, right up to door-opening time, did help the cast to make the very best use of the venue. The professionalism of this small company transformed the place, turning the hall into a theatre for the staging of serious theatre. The magic lingered as the company engaged us in a most interesting Q&A session after the drawing of Tom & Sylvia’s most excellent raffle. It is comforting to now that we have helped Two Gents Productions with their “Complete Shakespeare Project”. They still have a long way to go before realizing their ambition to be the first company ever to rehearse, perform and tour ALL of Shakespeare’s plays in chronological order! We shall follow their progress with interest.
“Good Folk – Bad Folk” - Isla St Clair and Patrick King
Sunday 29th March 2015 – 7:30pm
Not a single spare ticket for the eagerly anticipated return of the legendary Isla St Clair and doyen film-maker Patrick King. The return of our favourite entertainers was a fitting celebration of this year’s first evening of British Summer Time. Like the joyful chattering of soaring swallows it was so reassuring to have this comfortable couple back with us, home again. It felt like a reunion. Truly uplifting to be in the company of such interesting, friendly and consummate professionals.
They charmed us with another delightful programme. Singer and broadcaster Isla St Clair took us by the hand on a journey down memory lane, singing about heroes and villains of yesteryear, including Robin Hood, William Tell and highway men. Her nostalgic selection of characters from folk songs and the early days of television were full of surprises, wit and emotion. Filmmaker Patrick King recalled the old ‘screen baddies’ we remember so well. Hilarious film clips from old Westerns, Gangster movies and wartime cartoons were interwoven with Patrick’s personal and humorous insight into contemporary villainy, gained from working as an investigative journalist on series such as the award-winning ‘Cook Report’ This rich mix of song and film, including rare archive footage, made this another special evening.
A year ago the delightful duo captivated us with their superb show “Eyes Front”. With “Good Folk – Bad Folk”, Isla and Patrick reconnected an appreciative audience with joyful memories from the edges of television consciousness. How wonderful it was to be accosted by the best looking highway outlaw in the business; please, do it again. Sadly, all good things do come to an end and it looks like there will be no more “stand and deliver” here, for Patrick and Isla do not, at present, have another travelling act ready. So, thanks to them both for providing us with such delightful memories.
PHOENIX THEATRE GROUP
Presents an Evening of
MURDER MYSTERY 2: Who Killed the Holiday Rep?
Sunday 1st February 2015 ~ 7:30pm
Scene of Crime – Rolleston Club
Tickets £7.50 ~ Light Supper Included
Judging by the scribbled notes left behind, after Inspectors Waldorf and Bentham had the case wrapped up and the culprits despatched, the majority of us amateur detectives had been well and truly fooled by shoals of shifting red herrings garnishing this tasty Spanish whodunit. Phoenix Theatre Group transported us to the Golden Promise Travel Company office in Benidorm where unfolded, before an eager audience of more than a hundred would-be detectives, a tangled tale of Iberian intrigue.
With scripts in hand, clicking like castanets, and accents as thick as plates of paella this enthusiastic company tantalized onlookers with a ludicrously enjoyable entertainment. Despite there being neither a bead of perspiration nor a splash of seawater, we were swept away by this fishy tale. Beryl Toon served up an armada of superbly plattered suppers to feed a pack of hungry bloodhounds as they scratched heads and wracked brains in a desperate attempt to solve the mystery and complete the Answer Sheets in time. Congratulations to the super sleuths who cracked it and the witty gumshoes who won the comedy prize.
This very fine company of amateur enthusiasts quickly dispelled the sombre mood that pervaded at the start. The sudden death of Kate Goldsmith had caused us to question the propriety of going ahead. Husband Michael was surprised at this suggestion and insisted ‘the show must go on’ for “Kate would have wanted it”. At Verity’s suggestion, the proceeds from Tom & Sylvia’s legendary raffle were donated, to St Mary’s Church Rolleston – Kate & Michael’s favourite charity. Boosted by two magnificent hampers and with so many extra items, RoDSEC’s Murder Mystery raffle raised a remarkable £387, in memory of Kate.
MURDER MYSTERY 3
Return of Phoenix Theatre Murder Mystery Group – Sunday 31st 2016
Pack your pipe and baccy, polish your spy-glass and dust off the deerstalker in readiness for another cunning Murder Mystery on Sunday 31st January 2016 in Rolleston Club.
THANKS
We are grateful to all who supported our events this year, especially those who
bought, sold, donated, raffled, helped, served and applauded. Particular thanks
go to Rolleston Club for providing the venue and Starbucks for continuing to
operate a wonderful box office.
Thanks to all those who have supported us through the season. No wonder visiting acts enjoy performing here; appreciative audiences seated in comfortable surroundings make Rolleston on Dove a very attractive booking. With your continuing help, we aim to provide more of the same next year
LIVE & LOCAL 2015/2016
Such a rich season of entertainments leaves us hungry for more. To help satisfy
your appetite for good quality entertainment at a community venue we aim to
present two more Live & Local acts this coming autumn and next spring; details
should be available in the autumn edition of the Rollestonian.
14th Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 24th February 2015
RoDSEC Members 2015/2016
Officers
Chairman: John Phillips Vice Chair: Verity Conner Secretary: Delia Wyers
Treasurer: Sue Irwin
Committee: Angie Gillespie, Alan Partington, Anna Nickel, Beryl Toon, Helen
Barnett, Ian Whitehead, James Toon, John Morris, Kate Bailey, Lorraine
Macpherson, Lauren Marshall, Margaret Smedley, Nick Willmot, Phil Irwin, Simon
Richardson, Sue Fraser, Sylvia Martin, Shiela Redgrave, Trevor Foster, Tom
Martin
Thanks to all for continuing the project.
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RODSEC - Spring 2015 News
(Details extracted from article that first appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of the Rollestonian)
Here are details of the 14th AGM (pdf document)
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Last updated: 19 March 2016