home
future programme
past productions

 

 

 

HISTORY:

The Sheringham players were formed in 1964. Then in 2004 they joined forces and amalgamated with another prolific Amateur Dramatic group Called Stage Direct. This was a great success and today the group stands as fast as ever.

Past Productions
There just isn't the space to even remotely cover the vast array of material that the players have covered in over 40 years. We have produced shows in a huge variety of tastes from this year's production of Brimstone and treacle, Michael Palin's The weekend, and make way for Lucia. Recent farces include Wild goose chase and see how they run and many more. Then there were the Ayckbourn's plays Monologues and music numbers. Not forgetting thrillers like the turn of the screw etc. etc. Nothing is beyond us.

Lord Arthur Savile's Crime - June 2005
Summer Production "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime" by Constance Cox, based on the short story by Oscar Wilde.
Murder in mind! Lord Arthur Savile (David Starling) and faithful butler Baines (Graham Blyth) Poor Lord Arthur Savile has a problem:

He has been told by an eminent Palmist that He will commit a murder, but of course honour dictates that it would only be right and proper to perform this dastardly deed before his imminent marriage to the lovely Sybil.

But who should be his victim?

Aided by the foreign anarchist, Winkelkopf, he attempts to commit his crime before the approaching nuptials.  Will he succeed?

Will there indeed be a death in the family?

Come and see Oscar Wilde's improbable and witty Period comedy and find out for yourselves!

Lord Arthur Savile (David Starling) must commit a murder.  Will anarchist Winkelkopf (Kees van Woerkom) be any help

Talking Heads, three monologues by Alan Bennett
20 - 23 October 2004

Photo of Talking Heads performers At Edinburgh Festival in 1960, alan Bennett co-authored and starred in the satirical revue 'Beyond the Fringe' with his contempories Dudley Moore, Peter Cooke and Jonathan Miller, and he has been a nousehold name ever since.

His dramatic characters raise issues of universal appeal, none more so than in his powerful 'Talking Heads', three of which the Sheringham Players were proud to present to their audiences.

'A chip in the sugar' presents Graham's safe life being disrupted by a suitor from his mother's past, an alcoholic vicar's wife finds unexpected brief fulfillment in 'A bed Among the Lentils' and the story of Doris, the houseproud widow, completed the trio in 'A cream Cracker under the Settee'.

7th - 9th November 2002
Stage Direct's production of Alan Ayckbourn's "Living Together"
Stage Direct Production, 2003 This play is the second of the Norman Conquests trilogy. The action and main story is centred on Norman (played effortlessly by Matt Warrington) and his affections for three women (his wife Ruth and his two sister-in-laws Annie and Sarah). This unlikely "Love Rat" attempts to seduce Annie (played by bubbly little Janice Marron) by persuading her to go on a dirty weekend break with him to East Grinstead. Annie's sister-in-law Sarah (played by the buoyant Alison Bonnington) and brother Reg (played by John Hodgkinson) are drafted to help with the unseen "mother" for the said weekend.
However Norman's plans fall through, and Norman decides to drown his sorrows in a drunken stupour and falls asleep in the house. Revelations are afoot throughout, and poor Tom the dim vet (played by Nigel Manson) is somewhat confused with all the advice he is receiving, and is eventually drawn out of his "passive shell" by the turn of events as they unfold.

Reg tries in vain to unite the family by trying out his new "home-made game". Norman's affections turn secondly to Sarah and finally back to his wife (played by Val Bull).

We are, at the end, left feeling triumphant, yet as with many plays of this type there is a bitter sweet taste as to what might have been should the attempted betrayal lead to fruition.

In this rendition, Sarah the aloof woman of the piece sets the pace. With the others falling effortlessly and beautifully into line around her. Each of the individual strengths of the actors were explored and truly tested with light, shade and timing. As with Ayckbourn's plays, strong characterisations of different demeanours are essential, adding pathos and depth. Stage direct's casting was well defined with the irony of the play well staged. The set was superbly, convincingly built and well designed adding to the overall ambience. The play was exceptionally well choreographed by the director Derek Bull and staged managed by David Bonnington.

In all, this wrapped up yet another extremely successful run in this wonderful provincial theatre.
Contacts: Group secretary: Greg Pope 01263 513287