Biggar Theatre Workshop

Anybody out there?

2008-10-19T00:12:00.003+01:00

There hasn't been much traffic in here for a long time! Maybe we're all too busy with The King and I, but just maybe we're too busy using the website for our comments and thoughts. Anyhoo, the blog is still here and I vote we keep it up - comments and notions can be expounded and shared!!!! Even if it is just us that shares it!

Back in the saddle....

2007-07-31T11:24:00.000+01:00

Greetings to all Junior workshop members, just wanted to give those of you who read this blog a wee head start on the next show. We will be doing a musical version of 'Alice Through the Looking Glass' by Malcolm Sircom, based on the original Lewis Carroll story. If you don't know the story, you have a bit of time to find it and have a read! There will be lots of singing and movement in this one and the costumes will be, I think, fairly spectacular!
We start back on Wednesday 22nd of August at 6pm in the Corn Exchange, see you then!

The end of the Junior Session for this season.

2007-03-28T12:37:00.000+01:00

Well, that's it all over for another year! We have had a brilliant run, the cast were terrific and played their parts to the hilt. Once again I find myself blown away by the abilities these youngsters display! I cannot thank them enough for all their dedication and committment. I also have to thank the parents and friends who came along to help upstairs with makeup, hair and costuming, or backstage to pull up and put down the drops and scenery. We simply cannot do our shows without them and truly appreciate everything they do. Plans are afoot for our next production, but as it won't start rehearsal till August I won't bother you with details at the moment! If you have any interest in helping us with our show, or if you have a child in P3 -P7 who might like to join us you can contact me on btwjuniors@aol.com for further information.
Linda Gillespie

Junior Show

2007-03-16T09:00:00.001Z

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all who have been helping get the Junior Show - The Pied Piper onto the stage. we're at dress rehearsal and ready to roll. There are, I believe, some tickets left for Wednesday and Thursday, but not many - available from Brydens Newsagents £5 and £4. We will be running a bar and a raffle each night. Look forward to seeing you there!

Linda Gillespie

The Rivals are Rehearsing!!

2007-02-03T14:43:00.000Z

Rehearsals for the next adult workshop performance of Sheridan's 'The Rivals' are now underway. Despite some initial doubts about a shortage of suitable men (a common complaint!!!) we seem to have a close-to-full cast and everyone has slotted nicely into their characters. So far, so good. Due to some very gentle arm-twisting and veiled threats, we have some brand-new, never-seen-before performers who may be the stars of the future!!! We are enjoying rehearsals immensely and seem to find double-entendre and insinuation in every scene, and malapropism has taken on a new meaning!!! We will be looking for some help with set-building and painting later on, but cannot make a start on this until the Junior production has finished at the end of March. So it will be a busy 6 weeks leading up to the 4 performances on Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th May. (Put these dates in your diary.) Anyone at all who is interested in helping out nearer the time, please add a comment to this blog and leave an e-mail address, or e-mail me directly on gil@persilands.com
We would be grateful for as much help as possible, even if you have never done anything like this before. In the meantime, we're gonna keep on rehearsin' and hope to bring you an unforgettable show!!!

The Rivals and other matters....

2006-12-20T14:33:00.000Z

BTW's next adult production will be Sheridan's The Rivals in May 2007. Guy Heath will be directing in his unique and unimitable fashion!!!
We are keen to get as many people along to a reading and social evening on Monday 8th January at 7.30PM in the Corn Exchange. We will read some of the play and hope to cast the main roles following this session. However, we also want to talk about how we can get more people involved outwith the main productions. This may be in the form of workshops where we will read other works and discuss options for future performances, or workshops with specialists in make-up, stage set design, different aspects of performing etc. Or we may want to consider a seperate show or shows, during the Biggar Little Festival which may involve members who are not active in the main performance. Remember, Biggar Theatre Workshop belongs to its members and we would like everone to have a say in how we should develop.
So, even though we hope to cast The Rivals following the readings on 8th January, if you are not interested in performing in the Rivals, come along on the 8th January anyway and have your say.
Wine and nibbles provided!!!

Set Building Crew

2006-11-09T20:45:00.000Z

Time is being made available to build sets for this year's panto'Hansel & Gretel'.
If you can help with building sets, making props or are handy with a paint brush, come along to the Corn Exchange on Wednesday nights at 7:45 ( allowing time to let the Junior Workshop leave) and join us.

Major Barbara - Ready to Roll

2006-10-11T14:33:00.000+01:00

Well, that's it. Nothing more to be done. we're out of time 'cos the show opens tonight. The stage floor finally got painted last night in a very late final flourish - 1.30 PM finish!! The last week has been a frenzy, so in a way, the opening night, far from being a nerve-wracking experience, will be a massively liberating one accompanied by huge sighs of relief. May I take this opportunity of thanking everyone involved, I have learned so much from this experience and despite the stressful past few days, it does not seem to have put me off, however, time will tell!!!
Anyone who comes along to see the show this week - please leave your comments or write a review by clicking on the comments button at the bottom of this entry. The most entertaining or original may be included in the review in the Lanark Gazette, so please get blogging!!!
....and ENJOY THE SHOW, that's why we do it.

Final Flourish for Major Barbara - Glory 'Allelujah

2006-09-30T13:47:00.000+01:00

Well, less than 2 weeks to go before the cast of Major Barbara takes to the stage!!
The tickets go on sale today at Brydens Newsagent in Biggar, so we can't back out now!!! Everyone has worked so hard learning lines and pacing, pacing, pacing... Some have more to learn than others (and I don't just mean the lines...) and some pace a little more than others!! But I'm confident it will all come together splendidly on the night. It's a great play, at every rehearsal I discover something new; some subtle aside or hidden nuance. We have 3 more rehearsals before the Dress and Technical rehearsals on Sunday 8th October and haven't done a full run-through yet, but it's gonna be fantastic!!! Trust me....
As far as my experience as a producer is concerned, I have enjoyed it hugely and although I went into it with a bit of trepidation, I feel as if I have learned such a lot from the experience. Guy,the director, has been an inspiration and Hazel, the board chairman, has been a great supportor and motivator. I remember her last words to me as she released my arm from up my back...'the role of a producer is a bit of a thankless one...'well, I must say, I've found it greatly rewarding and although I've floundered at times, there's always been someone to help and support.
Anyway, that's enough about me...Major Barbara is on stage from Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th October from 7.30PM so get along to Brydens on Biggar High Street and get your tickets while you still can. See you all on the night.....

The Pied Piper is underway!

2006-09-21T17:36:00.000+01:00

The Junior Workshop has started back with a bang, or should that be a toot? We have a very enthusiastic bunch and plan to be casting the main roles over the next week or so. We've made a start on learning some of the songs, so far the big favourite is one called 'Market Day' and I understand strains of this melodious piece can be heard drifting round the playground or in various homes and gardens in the area! Sorry Mums and Dads! Rosemary has already started looking out costumes and has ideas for what fabrics we might need to create some of the more rodent like outfits. Anne is off and running with the music, Lesley, Evelyn and myself are getting the movement started and so far so good! Matthew and Iain have been in helping out and the gang are giving it everything they've got! It looks like it's going to be a real fun show!

Till next time!

Junior Workshop Starting Back

2006-07-30T22:17:00.000+01:00

Greetings to all, Just a wee note to let you know that the Junior Workshop will be starting back on Wednesday the 23rd August a 5.30pm in the Corn Exchange! Returning members are welcome and prospective new members will be contacted by me - Linda - before then. We are doing the Pied Piper of Hamelin by Malcolm Sircom, from Musicline Publications and this will be onstage the week before the Easter Break 2007.

Banging the Drum for Major Barbara

2006-06-27T21:49:00.000+01:00

Rehearsals for George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara are underway; all scenes have been provisionally blocked, but there will inevitably be some changes as we go along. This is the first time I have had the responsibility of keeping the notes for stage positioning and movement and now that I am transposing my notes onto a master copy, I realise just how challenging a task it is!! I seem to have actors sitting when they should be standing, standing when they should be sitting, moving to stage front when they’re already there, walking around sofas which do not exist and entering stage right when they’re already positioned stage left!!! However, our director, Guy, helps by keeping it simple, keeping movement around the stage down to a minimum and he never changes his mind…( said with tongue firmly in cheek!!)

We are part way through an audio recording of the entire script so that all actors can have a copy to take away during the summer break – no excuses whatsoever for them not to have learnt their lines by August!!!! And what a challenge that is going to be as there are some very weighty speeches to be learned. On top of this, most of the cast are having to master new accents. We have an Irish woman speaking cockney, an Antipode speaking Upper-Middle class English, an Irishman speaking Antipodean and Scots speaking Upper-Middle class English, regional Northern English, cockney English, and a variety of random, indefinable regional accents.

This is my first stab at producing and now I’ve worked out what it entails, I’m starting to enjoy it and I’m rather glad I volunteered!!

More news to follow after the summer break………

Biggar Theatre Workshop

2006-06-27T21:46:00.000+01:00

Biggar Theatre Workshop: "BTW AGM - the new board is go!
Last night was the Annual General Meeting of the Biggar Theatre Workshop, or the BTW AGM [I challenge anyone to make a good anagram of those letters!]. Many of the workshop board's positions were up for election, but most of the incumbents were happy to be returned for another two-year term. Hazel Gourlay stayed on as Director, assisted by David Bishop as her Depute Director [yes, depute is correctly spelled, honest]. Linda Gillespie returns as Junior Representative, as does Iain Cochrane as Theatre Manager. Alison Campbell resumes her position as Treasurer acting taking a one-year sabbatical while completing a higher education course. "

BTW AGM - the new board is go!

2006-06-09T09:38:00.000+01:00

Last night was the Annual General Meeting of the Biggar Theatre Workshop, or the BTW AGM [I challenge anyone to make a good anagram of those letters!]. Many of the workshop board's positions were up for election, but most of the incumbents were happy to be returned for another two-year term. Hazel Gourlay stayed on as Director, assisted by David Bishop as her Depute Director [yes, depute is correctly spelled, honest]. Linda Gillespie returns as Junior Representative, as does Iain Cochrane as Theatre Manager. Alison Campbell resumes her position as Treasurer acting taking a one-year sabbatical while completing a higher education course.

Loraine Kinghorn and Fiona Armstrong stepped down from their respective positions as press/publicity and drama representative. Elected unopposed for the posts were John Riley [Press and Publicity] and Guy Heath [Drama]. Gil Dunn has another year as BTW board secretary, but recently took on the task of organising and administering the workshop's Century Club fundraising initiative. Anne Cochrane stepped down from the non-board position as wardrobe mistress, a post that will now be split between Rosemary Buchanan and Denise MacMillan. However Anne is continuing as the BTW's child protection officer, an important role in any organisation.

After a light supper and drinks, those at the AGM were treated to a Powerpoint slideshow of pictures from past shows taken by the redoubtable Jim Ness, along with an hilarious selection of recorded outtakes from rehearsals for last year's production of An Inspector Calls.

Rehearsals have already begun on the next senior show, George Bernard Shaw's play Major Barbara. It will be staged in October 2006, directed by Guy Heath and produced by Gil Dunn. The juniors and youth members of the workshop are now on their summer break, but will start back in August for their respective productions. Meanwhile, somewhere in Coulter Malcolm Muir is hard at work writing this year's pantomime, which he will also direct. We're told it's loosely based on the story of Hansel and Gretel. Watch this space for updates and details as we get them!

Sweet Charity: dress rehearsal photos by Jim Ness

2006-05-12T09:21:00.000+01:00

More Sweet Charity dress rehearsal photos

2006-05-10T11:24:00.000+01:00

Sweet Charity: dress rehearsal photos by Jim Ness

2006-05-10T11:20:00.000+01:00

The Last Lap

2006-05-08T00:14:00.000+01:00

Just spent the best part of the day at the Dress Rehearsal for Sweet Charity. What a show this is going to be!!! I never cared much for the Film version with Shirley McLean, but would now consider myself to be a fan! I'm Stage Manager for this show and it's not the most straight forward one I've ever worked on but the show is very tight. The cast are very slick and are totally into the entire show. I now wish I'd put aside all my reservations about the show as an entity and gone into the chorus myself!! If you haven't yet gotten tickets to see this epic then I suggest you get on down to Brydens and grab whatever is left. If you don't, you will miss one of the best shows that Biggar Theatre Workshop have ever staged!

Free concert: Two Broads and a Piano

2006-04-17T07:33:00.000+01:00

Biggar Theatre Workshop is hosting a free concert this weekend, on Saturday April 22 at the Corn Exchange. Two Broads and a Piano features singers Alison Bishop and Nicky Wood, with Margaret Patience at the keyboard. The trio are performing songs that showcase the evolution of musical entertainment, from the drawing room to the theatre. The concert features a special guest performance by the Landsberg Ensemble.

Two Broads and a Piano begins at 8pm this Saturday and doors opens at 7.30pm. Entry is free but all donations will be gratefully accepted for a very worthy cause - Cancer Research UK. If you enjoy good music and friendly company, come along this Saturday!

Sweet Charity: dancin' up a storm!

2006-04-05T10:18:00.000+01:00

A sneak preview of the dance routines from our forthcoming production of Sweet Charity. The show's on at the Biggar Corn Exchange from May 9-13, 2006, and promises to be our best musical yet!

Tickets go on sale from Bryden's Newsagents in Biggar from 10 am on Tuesday, April 25th - five pounds (and four pounds for concessions). Get your tickets early or risk disappointment!

And that's a wrap!

2006-03-29T22:28:00.000+01:00

Final performance and the party are now behind us and we did the clear up in record time! Dream On has to have been one of the best shows we've done! The cast did a sterling job and gave it their all and we, the production team, as so proud of them. It was really interesting to see how the understanding of the truly Shakespearean sections of dialogue filtered through - as time went on they were no longer reciting the lines but understanding the meaning of the words and giving them feeling and expression. We had a large number of the cast back into the theatre tonight to let them watch the video of the show. It was a delight to see them, seeing themselves on the screen! Very funny to hear them singing along with the songs and watch them doing the dance moves in their seats. We are very lucky to have a cast CD of the show in the making, Matthew is going into production in the next wee while and will make copies for all who ordered one. I've heard snippets of it and can highly reccommend it! We have photos as well and will make efforts to get them out to anyone who wishes a CD of them (cast members that is!).
All in all it's been a good show, there were a few weeks when we thought it wasn't going to pull together but, as usual, they pull stunning performances out of their socks! Now we have the long summer hiatus and gird our loins for the next production which will begin rehearsing again in August. So until then I say farewell, keep reading the blog - you'll never know what might get posted!!
Till next time

Linda

Review of 'Dream On'

2006-03-29T09:47:00.000+01:00

The words of William Shakespeare came alive at the Biggar Theatre Workshop last week when the youth and junior members staged Dream On, a hilarious adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The script by Malcolm Sircom proved the works of Shakespeare should not be relegated to classrooms and English exams. The young cast brought the Bard’s best known comedy to life in a slick, engaging production at the Biggar Corn Exchange.

Sircom’s script kept all the essential elements of Shakespeare’s play, but gave them a contemporary twist to make them relevant for modern audiences. The staging was just as clever, opting for simple and uncluttered sets that gave the play and its players room to shine.

Using the combined membership of the theatre workshop’s youth and junior sections enabled a broad range of characterisations. To pick out individuals from among such a large cast would be unfair, especially when all those on stage gave enthusiastic and memorable performances. But special mention must be made of Titania and Oberon’s gangs of fairies, who acted as a wry chorus, commenting on events and providing vocal support for the toe-tapping tunes.

As usual with a Biggar Theatre Workshop show, the production elements were impressive. The costumes and make-up were stunning, displaying both wit and imagination. Scene changes were slick and professional, aided by the use of lighting effects to manage the varying mood of each sequence. The pre-recorded music strongly supported the singers, but did not overpower them.

All in all, the show was one of the most enjoyable to grace the stage of the Biggar Corn Exchange, and a credit to the hard work of its cast and crew - DB.

Doing nicely, thank you!

2006-03-23T23:14:00.000Z

Well we're up and running! Two nights have passed by in a blur of colour and music! The running time has miraculously dropped to just under and hour and a half and looks like getting faster. Not that there's anything being missed out, it's just the cast are settling into the rhythm of the piece and it's going along swimmingly! It's a fun script with lots of laughs in it. Sometimes you lose track of the gags - you hear them so often in rehearsal - then suddenly the audience are chortling away and you realise yes, this is funny! The kids are real stars waiting for the laugh to fade before continuing with the dialogue. We've been hearing very nice compliments for our bunch of youngsters over the past two nights, and deservedly so! They are really very good even if i do say so myself! Two more to go and then the after show party! Can we survive? I expect so! Just as long as the glitter spray holds out till Saturday...........
Till next time!

Tickets are on Sale

2006-03-12T18:41:00.000Z

Well that's the tickets in Brydens' and the board is up. Just a few more last minute things needing done - like the programme and a couple of props. We've had a lovely fall of snow and this could be problematic for the reheasal on Wednesday if it doesn't clear but we can't allow that prospect to worry us. I hope that you have all managed to get your tickets for the night you want to come, we look forward to seeing you at the Corn Exchange at one of our performances!

Till next time!
Linda

Counting Down!

2006-03-06T23:28:00.000Z

Here we are, two weeks to go and the nerves are starting to jangle loud enough to be heard from the foyer! I finished painting the front of house board tonight and it will go up on Wednesday night. We have the tickets to date stamp and the programme to finish. Matthew is practically finished his recording and the lights are installed and tried out - looking fantastic might I add!Iain, Matthew and I spent a few hours last Sunday getting all the tabs moved around into the correct positions and the backdrop has hung out and looks really good. The raised platform has been put in place and the gang are having to get used to it being on the stage, it'll take another rehearsal but they'll be fine with it! The cast are still working hard and there are still a few bits needing major ironing to get the wrinkles out but we'll get there! One of our biggest difficulties was our originally cast Oberon having to drop out at the last minute and our having to replace him with the older sister of our Titania! In theory this should be okay as they can rehearse at home together, but as you might know things are not as simple as that. However we are extremely lucky and very, very grateful that Kirsty has agreed to step in and we are looking forward to it all coming together!
The Front of House has been organised and the raffle prizes are starting to come in so it's all systems go for two weeks time! Remember to get your tickets early as they sell out pretty quickly!

Till next time
Linda

Once more from the top.......

2006-02-07T22:25:00.000Z

Welcome to the Junior section of the blog! Rehearsals for our Junior/Youth show 'Dream On' by Malcolm Sircom are moving on apace. We are now on the home stretch and stress levels are set to rise over the next few weeks! However, it's all worth it in the end!
We have been very fortunate to have the mega-talented services of Matthew Cochrane on board this year. Originally asked to re-arrange one of the backing tracks (because it sounded too much like a song from a previous show) Matt decided, in his wisdom, to re-arrange all the backing tracks. You have to hear them, we have Goldfrapp treatments and Black Eyed Peas treatments and I don't know what else. They are adding more than a little to the overall production. Matthew is also making a cast CD of all the music, he has been recording the children singing and he's had them playing percussion and clapping and all sorts of things - they really are making this show their own!
On the Production side, we are now getting to grips with lighting plots and sound systems. We are very fortunate to have lots of people who come in to help out when asked - Mary has been in sorting out the dancing, Alison has been in to help with the singing. George, our Stage Manager is back in the fold and the minimal props and set are in the creation. Backstage and dressing room crew are being sought and the aftershow party food list is being drawn up.
We are presenting this show in as much of a Shakespearean style as we can manage - no curtains, practically no scenery or set and a chorus who spend most of their time onstage. Rosemary is up to her armpits in fabric and costumes and the rest of us are doing what needs to be done. The programme is in the embryonic stage and I'm getting ready to paint the front of house board so that our public know when to go buy their tickets!
'Dream On' is a fun version of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream. All the characters are there and even some of the original dialogue. There are songs and jokes and more than a few good going guffaws happening in the script. The plot is faithful to the original, the lovers mix up and the magic woven by Puck Titania and Oberon and of course, the happy ending. I wish we could have had this approach to Shakespeare when I was at school!
To show them how it's done professionally, we are taking a large number of the youngsters to the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on the 18th of Feb, to see the Royal Shakespeare Company doing the real thing accompanied by the original Mendelssohn score, played, I think by the London Sinfonia, but I may have got the orchestra wrong........ We're going by coach and I have a funny feeling I may be trying to get a singing rehearsal on the go on the way home........! Must remember to take a copy of the words, just in case!

Till the next time - Linda

Funny, thought-provoking and fab

2006-01-29T19:47:00.000Z

The BTW played host to Tweed Theatre's touring show 4 by 4 on Friday: a quartet of one-act plays by different writers, performed by a cast of four. The cast included Keith Lomas, a familiar figure on the stage at the Corn Exchange. He was among the participants in the first Mostly Mozart opera workshop, staged during the 2004 Biggar Little Festival. The show was a delight to watch and drew a very good crowd for a visiting company, especially considering it clashed with the annual quiz night at the Gillespie Centre. Tweed Theatre's cast and crew seemed delighted by the welcome they got and the size of the audience, and were already talking about coming back for another show in the future. It's great to see our amateur dramatic groups making use of the facilities at the Corn Exchange, and to experience plays previously unseen.

Meanwhile, rehearsals continue for 'Sweet Charity', the combined youth and junior production 'Dream On' and this year's Mostly Mozart opera workshop. With 2006 being Mozart's 250th anniversary, the workshop will be a particularly apt production for this year's Biggar Little Festival. But 'Dream On' is our next show on stage, creating a Shakespearean showcase at the Corn Exchange from March 22-25. Watch this space for more details!

Welcome to the Biggar Theatre Workshop's blog!

2006-01-19T00:34:00.000Z

This blog will offer a behind-the-scenes peak into life at the Biggar Theatre Workshop, an amateur dramatic group based in the Scottish town of Biggar. For the past 35 years the BTW has been staging plays, musicals and pantomimes at the Corn Exchange on Biggar High Street. We also play host to touring companies.

Indeed, our next show is '4 by 4', a quartet of one-act plays performed by four actors from Peebbles' Tweed Theatre. The production will be at the Corn Exchange on Friday, January 27 2006. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now from Bryden's Newsagent on Biggar High Street, priced at £5.00 (concessions £4.00). There may be tickets available at the venue on the night, but we can never guarantee this.

Our next homegrown production is 'Dream On', an adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. This features both our youth and junior members, combining for a fabulously entertaining show. There will be four performances in March, from Wedneday 22 - Staurday 25.

The workshop's adults have just begun rehearsals for this year's musical. Our all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza's have proven to be sell-out successes, with Calamity Jane raising the roof in 2005 and Man of La Mancha fulfilling a few impossible dreams in 2004. This year's musical is planned to be Sweet Charity, the story of a hopeful romantic in New York City. It features such well known songs as Hey Big Spender, If They Could See Me Now and Rhythm of Life. We had a wonderful turn out at auditions and now the hard work of rehearsing the show begins in earnest. Watch this space for updates!