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I have chosen this years pantomime "Hansel and Gretel" to givesome of the younger members of the groupa chance to develop their talents. They have all been members of the chorus for a number of years. We have Ben Clayton playing Hansel doing a fine job with two leading ladies, Rosie Tanner and Victoria Youster sharing the part of Gretel. They are with us for the first year, but both have been on stage in other productions.and are both nice little actresses. Rebecca Hands our Prince and Gemma McNally playing Rose, have also stepped out of the chorus this year. Alex and Natham Gaymer- Jones are also with us for the first time, Alex doing a super job as Tommy the Dames young Son and Natham playing the Christmas Child. Emily Walker and Lydia Fenny are Joining the senior chorus this year. These children are all between the ages of 11 and 16 years and I wish them all a succesful and happy pantomime. We still have the regular members that our audiences know playing the Dame, King of !the Gypsy's, Fairy, Woodcutter and his Wife. and the Dames faithful horse played by Mandy Yeomans (the front half) and Sarah Maher (bringing up the rear) This is very much a good family story, and look forward to your support again this year and promise you a pleasant evening of pantomine fun
June Stephens.

Message from June:

Well done everyoned, because of the situation we found ourselves in this show,lighting sound and our blessed red ball, were not put to the test before our Thursday night show, so so this became more of a dress rehearsal than our first night performance, but beside a few problems, noticable to us not the audience, the show went very well and seemed to be enjoyed by our audiences. I thank you all. Paul must be complimented on coping with such a mammmoth part, his first production with us and to Ted for stepping in to Lockwood at short notice, Ted was with the group some years ago and it was great to see him back. and to Dave Morrison, again returning to us and I hope we can call on them in the future. I felt the cast was one of the strongest we havehad in a long time. I thank you all you were great.
 
Our beautiful set was thanks to Dave Lusty an Paul, who supplied all the material, and built most of it in their own time. On the five times we put up and took down that set, the whole of the cast gave their time and committment building, painting,and dressing the set you were all terrific and I thank you everyone worked so well together and made a hard job fun.
 
My thanks to Wendy, Debbie, and Matthew, for all their hard work back stage, also the boys on lighting again stepping in at short notice also to Roy and his front of house team who do a great job. These unseen people are an important part of the production who we cannot do without so many thank to you all
 
This has been a tough one with me again pulling my hair out and some sleepless nights, but I am sure we can add this productionto our theatre successes,
 
All have a good rest, I hope to see you all soon.

SLEEPING BEAUTY – A NOTE FROM IAN

There is a saying in the theatre “The show must go on” and this was never more apparent than with this year’s pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Apart from its usual problems, we had to contend with chorus members dropping out, rollers that would not roll and recasting the ‘Prince’ three rehearsals before the show. However everyone, both cast and crew dug deep and pulled off another success for the group. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU.
Mick Harris stage managed the show admirably with the help of Trevor and Tosh, who headed a new team which included Ashley, Lyn, Jarreth, Katie, who did a fantastic job with make-up (Steve was that impressed that he wouldn’t let anyone else do his!) Thank you also to Wendy for all her help with props and even Chris Beebee made an appearance backstage.
Many thanks to Ian and Phil for providing the music, Dave and Chris Morrison for lighting and sound (it’s lovely to see you back) and Roy and his Front of House and Refreshment teams.
I must however say a special Thank You to Katie Smith who stood in at the last minute as ‘Prince Peter ‘when Chris Beebee had to pull out due to ill health. Katie had three rehearsals but to be honest you wouldn’t have known.
Thank you to Christine for keeping me sane and her dancers, April, Bethany, Chloe, Lauren and Kirsty.
Again a huge ‘Thank You’ to the cast and crew. Well done because the show did go on.

  Ian Bettridge

Copy of review of Mrs Markahm as published in the December 2009 Castle Bromwich Gazette, written by Ellis Creez

Castle Bromwich Theatre Group's performance of Ray Cooney and John Chapmans farce Move Over Mrs. Markahm played to near-capacity hysterical audiances at the Arden Hall for three jolly nights in October.
Masterfully directed by June Stephens, the show tells the story of of Philip Markham, a respectable childrens book publisher, and his wife Joanna, and their plans for a rare evening out together after 15 years of marriage. However, Phillip has been asked by his business partner, Henry Lodge, if he can use their flat while they are out to entertain his latest girlfriend Miss Wilkinson. Joanna has also been asked by Linda Lodge (Henrys' wife) if she can use the flat to entertain her lover, Walter. In addition to all this the Markham's interior designer Alistair plans to spend the night at the flat with Sylvie the au pair girl, and all three sets fustrated lovers become more fustrated when the Markham's night out is cancelled and a series of misunderstandings begin.
Steve Ridsdill and Christine Perry played the cheating couple Henry and Linda Lodge and succeded in making their adulterous characters sympathetic to the audiance by being so likeable on stage. Entertainer Chris Beebee played the camp decorator Alistair with nostril-flaring, jockstrap-exposing gusto, full of comic indignation at his thwarted atempts to bed Sylvie, played by the very pretty Sharon Clayton.
Debbie Wall's scantily clad Miss Wilkinson and Ian Bettridges drunken appearances as Walter added further delightful complications to the shows second half.
Rob Glavey played Phillip Markham with a represses dignity that turns into crazed jealousy when Phillip mistakenly assumes that his wife is being unfaithful. This journey into lunacy was played well by Glavey, especially when Phillip has to pose as his own butler, Phillips, in order to clinch a deal with the esteemed and prudish Miss Smythe, an authoress of childrens books (a great quaint character turn by Sarah Maher)
The chaos is all held together by the herculean efforts of Mrs Markham, trying desparately to restore order, and she was played with excellent strong controlled performance by Mandy Yeomans.
The audiances whooped and laughed throughout and some were treated to an impromtu performance of songs by the cast at the post-performance party in the Arden Hal bat, but that's another review