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Have you ever sat by a lake and watched the ducks, and wondered what it is like to be a duck? Do ducks have problems and worries – besides the obvious one of being shot at? Are there similarities between the lives of humans and those of ducks?
These questions and more are considered in Dingwall Players latest production, ‘The Duck Variations’ by David Mamet. Mamet is an American playwright probably best known for ‘Glengarry, Glen Ross’ – recently staged to critical acclaim in London’s West End. ‘The Duck Variations’ features a mixed group of characters and a live cellist in a darkly comic, short play presented as fourteen scenes, or variations. The production will form the centre piece of two evenings’ entertainment in the relaxed atmosphere of at the National Hotel. Both evenings will also include music, song, and a modern dance piece by the newly formed plan B Young Company. You don’t need a ticket – just turn up and relax with a drink or two. Audience members are invited to pay what they like for the evenings’ entertainment.
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Hello and Happy New Year and are you coping with the snow? This is the first newsletter this year – but also the first since the last one. ….and that was over 6 months ago! Something must have happened since then but clearly not worthy of a Newsletter update! So –what’s been happening and was ahead? Read on… Edinburgh Festival Fringe What a great time was had by all – including we hope the audiences who came to see us. Pretty much full houses each night! A resounding success so a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who supported us in getting there. It was a team effort form the whole club, of that there is no doubt, but credit must be given to Nick whose inspiration and belief were realised and whose organisational diligence made it all happen. The Club are considering taking another performance in 2019. PANTO Puss in Boots A very successful panto once more with a small, but dedicated and talented cast under the direction of Peter Whitely (who joined us last year) Improved marketing (upgrade from old fashioned advertising!) very largely thanks to Donna Macrae saw good audiences each night too. Thank you to Tesco and other local businesses. And we made a profit which will help towards ongoing cost of other productions! We are very grateful to Dingwall Academy for the support they give us every year. ANNUAL BASH This took place last Saturday night with 20 plus of us turing out for what was a fun night. The National produced a good meal followed by a manageable quiz from Nick. Thanks to Nick for all his work in arranging the night WORD on the STREET This took place last October 12-14th when DP collaborated with several other artistes creating events over 3 days in various venues. DP were mainly involved at the final Saturday night event with rehearsed readings of new plays (local authors), music, singing from Liz Mclardy and joined by Rob Gee who performed his own one man play ‘Forget Me Not” DP have agreed to support WordOnTheStreet again. SCDA ONE ACT PLAYS Oh Yes we will. Oh No we won’t. Oh Yes we will. Oh No we won’t Saga of the year so far and too tedious to relate (certainly to hear) in detail, but combination of lack of other entrants plus SCDA confusion lead the committee in deciding not to enter this year. However we are doing a One Act Play………. DUCK VARIATIONS This one-act play by David Mamet (author of Glengarry Glen Ross) is now in rehearsal and is to be performed on April 6th and 7th in The National Hotel, Dingwall The aim is to stage another short piece the same evening and the Club are particularly keen to get both newer members and those less often on stage involved. If you have even a hint of interest please email Alan or myself. There will then be an open evening to get together and plan. I will let you know the date of this later There will also be some singing and music Premises nothing really happening at the moment! COMMITTEE We have welcomed Hilary back on the committee as a co-opted member and she is taking over as Treasurer from Margaret McConnell who stepped in to help us out. Many thanks Margaret Allan Thomson, Chair [email protected] Ali Wood, Min Sec/ Newsletter [email protected] Dingwall Players celebrates its 70th birthday by appearing for the first time at the Fringe on the occasion of the festival’s 70th anniversary.
Lunch Girls by Ron Hart, is a comedy drama that looks at the lives of four middle-class women – their loves and losses, and their position as wives and mothers to demanding families and selfish or inadequate husbands. For those unable to go the The Fringe there will be a chance to see the show before it heads to Edinburgh. Lunch Girls can be seen at the:
The evening will also include a specially written companion piece, Bar Boys, which features the Lunch Girls’ respective husbands. Audience members are asked to ‘pay what they want’ and help fund the Fringe adventure. Bee, Dee, Jay and Vee – will they ever do lunch? Dee's a bitch, Jay's in love (but who with?), Vee's got Harry's mother's dodgy wheelchair to deal with, and Bee worries about everything. And why isn't Kay answering the door? As for the husbands – well that's another story. Sex, death, secrets and lies. A funny and moving snapshot of the interweaving lives of four ordinary women and their domestic trials and tribulations, told through a sequence of often comic exchanges and monologues During The Fringe Lunch Girls is being presented at The Space@Surgeon’s Hall (Venue 53), Nicolson Street from 14 – 19 August at 6.10pm AGM
The AGM was held on 26.4.17 and thank you to those of you who managed along Your new committee is (and some of the names may look just a little familiar) Allan Thomson Chair Kirstine Thomson Sec Alison Wood Minute sec / Newsletter Fran Bowen Stage Manager Margaret McConnell Treasurer Tina Fewster, Peter Whitely, Nick Fearne and Donna Macrae We are delighted to welcome Peter Whitely and Margaret McConnell not only to the committee but also fairly recently to the Club. Peter many of you will know from times in Tain performing, writing and directing whilst Margaret has some indirect connections – and just happens to be a bookkeeper! And ‘volunteered”! Please do let the committee know if there is any matter you want raised, opinion you want to voice – or even play you want to see done. Heaven Forbid – even direct!! Talking of which we have been talking about Pantomime choices. Any thoughts? Allan Thomson, Chair WANTED!
Bar Boys This year for the first time in its history Dingwall Players will be appearing at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. ‘Lunch Girls’ will be presented at The Space@Surgeons Hall (Venue 53) daily at 18.10 from 14-19 August. Tickets are available at www.edfringe.com and are selling steadily. The show lasts 45 minutes so it’s possible to get the last train back to Inverness if you are thinking about a day trip. For those not going to Edinburgh there is an opportunity to see the show when it is presented in The National Hotel, Dingwall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8th August. As a bonus a new companion piece, ‘Bar Boys’, has been written and will be performed as a double bill with ‘Lunch Girls’. ‘Bar Boys’ is a short comedy that focuses on the respective husbands of the ladies in ‘Lunch Girls’ So, we are now looking for 4 ‘Bar Boys’ to tell their side of the story! Interested? Then come along to Dingwall Players base at the former Family Resource Centre, Sellar Place, Conon Bridge (follow the signs to the Bowling Green) on Wednesday 24 May at 7.30pm Support Us Taking part in the Fringe is quite costly. We are busy seeking sponsorship and raising funds. If you have a sponsorship lead or a fund-raising idea or event please get in touch [email protected] Dingwall Players is entering this year’s SCDA Festival of One Act Plays with a production of ‘Lunch Girls’ by Ron Hart. The talented cast of Ali Wood, Tina Fewster, Liz Mclardy and Hilary Bradshaw will take to the stage at The Florians Theatre, Inverness at 7.30pm on Saturday 4 March Tickets can be booked through Ron Singleton [email protected] 01349 863110 And then………..in a first for Dingwall Players we will be presenting ‘Lunch Girls’ at the Edinburgh Fringe – 70 years of the Fringe and 70 years of Dingwall Players! For the Fringe Kirstine Thomson will join the cast in place of Hilary Bee, Dee, Jay and Vee – will they ever do lunch? Dee's a bitch, Jay's in love (but who with?), Dee's got Harry's mother's dodgy wheelchair to deal with, and Bee worries about everything. And why isn't Kay answering the door? As for the husbands – well that's another story. Sex, death, secrets and lies. A funny and moving snapshot of the interweaving lives of four ordinary women and their domestic trials and tribulations, told through a sequence of often comic exchanges and monologues. We have a prime time slot at a major venue - Theatre 1 at the Space at Surgeons Hall (venue 53)– opposite the Festival Theatre, from 14-19 August at 18.10 …….and tickets are already on sale at www.edfringe.com So spread the word! PANTO
“Cinderella and the Velvet Slipper” by Peter Nuttall Tickets are now available!
Also, if you feel comfortable, can you share the FaceBook page with friends for promotion. Thanks Bring your granny, bring your neighbour, bring your friends – just bring yourself! Annual Bash: January 14th in The National Hotel, Dingwall The cost will be around £15 and 7.30 pm but I will confirm both of these in due course. A quiz as usual but may not be usual format! We shall see. Good fun as always though! EMAIL ME if you want to come. Please note that because this is in an hotel, its not BOYB. QUIZ NIGHT Huge success (even though I wasn’t in the winning team!) so well done to Donna, Hilary, Nick and Andy who did win and an enormous THANK YOU to Mary and Andy for oraganising. Thank you for coming and hoped you enjoyed too. (Don’t yet know how much we raised; will know more after next committee meeting! SCDA One Act Festival Rehearsals are in progress for 'Lunch Girls' by Ron Hart under the steely and insightful direction of Nick Fearne. The Lunch Ladies chip in every 5 minutes with helpful suggestions! The final cast line-up to be determined but thus far its sounding promising and an interesting play for Dingwall Players to do. Reminder of dates for the SCDA Festival: District Round 3-4th March at Florians Divisional Round 24-25th March, Wick Scottish Finals 13-15th April, Pitlochry And we hope to take to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as have performances locally in the Dingwall area. Membership (said in a pleading tone…) Have to mention again………membership fees? - and in particular anyone who is involved in panto needs to pay this to ensure our insurance which won’t cover unpaid members. £20 adult and £5 for junior / student paid to Hilary please As ever any and all comments & suggestions appreciated Ali |
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