Page 11 - OT_70th Anniversary

‘84 Charing Cross Road’ directed by Jane
As the old adage states, the show must go
on and we had already decided on the next
production. ‘Communicating Doors’ was
directed by Richard Harris. This play
presented some challenges with a ‘Tardis-
like’ time capsule, strobe lighting and
confusing time warps, but it worked.
Natalie Berghan had been a member of the
cast but after the play we bade her and her
family farewell as they were travelling to
Britain to work for a while.
The end of year production was entitled
‘Kiwi Kabaret’ and took the form of a
Karaoke style show. This was co-directed
by Barry Freebairn and Jeanette Reid. We
had a mixture of some recorded and live
music and, once again, some new faces.
Renovations were undertaken during the intention being to have the job completed
summer recess in the form of wallpapering by the next production. This timing did not
in the passage and conservatory. The quite work out and, as we served meals to
talents of Barbara Thomson, Jane Barr and the patrons in the theatre for the Music
Carol and Barry Freebairn were used for Hall, all was well.
this and things were looking very tidy and
clean.
2003
We needed to replace the dishwasher, so
we purchased and installed a second-hand
steriliser-type unit before the play seasons
started.
The first was ’Laying the Ghost’ directed by
Wendy Bell. This production brought Pete
Romer to the theatre and, after his acting
role in the play, Pete has gone on to
provide us with some wonderful publicity
and posters as well as performing in
several shows.
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Barr was our next production. Another
unusual play bringing some newcomers to
the theatre and the return of Hamish Barr
in what was perhaps one of his favourite
roles as he had no lines to learn! His was,
however an essential role and sadly soon
after this season finished Hamish died
suddenly.
During this year we had a garage built at
the back of the section to accommodate
the stage flats and other properties. The
plan was then to convert the original props
shed into a dressing room/green room.
Rick Billing built a large storage shed for
timber used for construction of sets. The
weather hampered his building but he got
there in the end.
Barry Freebairn hard at work on dining room refurbishment
Barry Freebairn started stripping the
wallpaper from the dining room walls, his
The end of the year was celebrated with a
Music Hall style show entitled ‘Masquerade
II’. This started out as a copy of
‘Masquerade’ which we had done some
years ago. However, it soon began to take
on its own personality - so we kept the title.
This production was directed by Graeme
Watson with a little help (interference) from
Barry Freebairn.
2004
The year began with more renovations.
Barry was continuing with painting the
dining room walls whilst Rick built an
extension to the wardrobe, incorporating
part of the old dressing room. All this was