All aboard The Ghost Train!
“Get your tickets for the new season…”
Well, well, well, dear readers. It would appear that there’s a new Lady Whistledown in town, and that this grey lady has the enjoyable and enviable task of reporting on all the show stuff shenanigans that occur within the walls of our theatre.
Now you might be forgiven for thinking that during the summer weeks, where one season has ended and we await a new one to begin, that the theatre would be devoid of any activity. However, as I took my first whisk through the backstage corridors, I became alert to an argument in progress. Stumbling into the Studio, I bore witness to a heated discussion about whether the group of assembled characters should leave the station, or remain there. Something had clearly rattled their nerves and tensions were running high…
I had arrived, mid-rehearsal, at the season opener, The Ghost Train, and was thankful that the angst in the room was not due to Cliff Francis’ direction but rather due to Teddie Deakin (played by Sarah Gennoe) explaining why it was a bad idea for the assembled group to abandon the safety of the station waiting room. Even in this short moment, there was intrigue enough to keep me watching, and that certainly bodes well for when the production takes to the stage, with all the technicalities involved, and the atmosphere really gets ramped up. It reminded me of the best episodes of Most Haunted, as the night vigils unfold, and more and more unexplained happenings take place, just off camera.
I managed to catch a few moments with Cliff during the break and tried to glean a little more ghostly gossip about his production. ‘It’s a fantastic little thriller,’ he told me, ‘with a few decent jump scares, plenty of peril, and a good dose of comic moments to lighten the tension.’ He was also keen to emphasise that it this is a family play; that ‘it contains nothing offensive or disturbing.’ Cliff is no stranger to this play, having directed it previously with Settlement Players, and performed in it at QMT, and he was quite effusive when explaining why he thinks audiences should come and see it.
The play itself is a comedy thriller written in 1923 by Arnold Ridley, who’s perhaps more well known for his role as Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army than he is for being a prolific playwright. He did, in fact, write more than 30 plays, of which only The Ghost Train achieved any real success.
Ridley’s story focuses on a group of travellers stranded for the night in a lonely Cornish station. It was inspired by his own experience of a missed connection. In his biography, he recalls how he was stranded at a similarly remote train station: ‘I was awoken by a Bristol-Birmingham express rip-roaring by with a flash of lights and a scream of whistle… and it gave me the idea of passengers stranded on a lonely station haunted by the shades of other passengers killed in a smash. Why not the ghost of the train itself?’
When asked about whether the play seems dated, Cliff was quick and emphatic with his ‘absolutely not!’. ‘It still works because it’s brilliantly written and constructed. It has to be played straight so that the audience feel as though they’re in the waiting room with the other characters. When the dead stationmaster’s lamp is seen, the audience have to feel scared.’ With this in mind, Cliff states that he is going for a naturalistic approach to the play: he waxes lyrical about his company – the cast and crew he has assembled – and that it’s not just about the performances on stage that create the atmosphere, but also the contributions of those backstage. He wants the audience to buy in to the world he creates. When it was time to depart, it was clear that Cliff had more to say, and there was more I wanted to know. I guess the good thing about this job is the ability to drop in and observe from time to time. I suggested to Cliff that we reconvene in September and feed our social media platforms with further goings-on – stay tuned to those.
I was certainly left even more fascinated by this production, and can’t wait to see how it evolves into the final stage version. It’s certainly a fitting and exciting play to open the new season, totally apt for our supposedly haunted theatre, and for a season where we are going to be treated to more than one ‘ghost play’. And you can be sure, dear reader, that I will be paying close attention to this production, and will let you know of any further developments.
The Ghost Train arrives on Friday 30th September.
Simon Wallace
September 2022
From the Chair
Welcome to September’s Barn News
Welcome to this month’s Barn News – September is always an exciting month as we get going with the new season, and auditions and rehearsals are getting into full swing.
We also have some social events coming up to get us back to having some theatre fun after a sweltering summer: a jazz night on the 16th and Just a Minute! a few weeks after. Get your tickets now if you haven’t already.
Perhaps not surprisingly I haven’t had much feedback (well any in fact) to my request for some thoughts on where next for the Barn. Please do give it some thought and email me… while I don’t want to tie the hands of the next Chair and Council members, a framework to discuss is going to be important as we continue to recover from lockdown and move forwards.
You’ll see elsewhere in Barn News an appeal for someone to audition for Maureen’s upcoming production of Haunting Julia – please consider if you can join the company or think of someone who would fit. We don’t want to lose any productions this season – and she just needs one male actor to complete the cast!
There’s not much else to chat about this month – there had to be some tidying up around the place and a couple of surprises in the bar area: thanks to Roger, James, Sharon, Martin and everyone else for all their work.
I’m very much looking forward to the new season. Let’s keep the buzz going that was in the air at the Directors Evening, and do everything we can to fill our theatre with laughter, tears and joy.
See you for the jazz night, and The Ghost Train!
Simon Parr
Chairman
Membership & Council
Minutes for the Council Meeting July 2022
As there was no Council meeting in August to approve the minutes of the July meeting, these will be available next month.
Our membership news depends on information we get from YOU
Haunting Julia - actor required!
Where have all the young men gone? Maureen Davies, the director of our late-November production Haunting Julia, is looking for a male actor in their 30s. The play is a three-hander, so there will be a fair few lines to learn but that shouldn’t bother a good actor – and it’s a great part to get their teeth into. If you’re interested or require further information please contact Maureen on: [email protected] or telephone 01438 817472.
It would be so sad if another play at the Barn had to be pulled.
Maureen Davies
Director
Audition Notice:
The Height of the Storm
By Florian Zeller
Directed by John Davies
Playing dates: 13th - 21st January
Audition dates:
Wedneday 28th September at 8pm
Sunday 2nd October at 2pm
Wednesday 5th October at 8pm
All in The Studio.
A brief synopsis:
A fascinating play by French playwright Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton: named ‘best play of 2018’ and ‘one of the best plays of the 21st century’ by The Guardian. It’s set in a French country house, the home of an elderly famous writer and his wife. Their two daughters are visiting them, and we soon hear that there’s been a recent funeral, though it’s not clear who’s died. After a while it begins to appear as though it must have been either the writer or his wife except that both of them are on stage for a large part of the play, often speaking at some length, although at different times one or other of them doesn’t seem to have been heard by the rest…
The characters (2 men, 4 women)
André, Madeleine, Anne and Élise have an almost equal number of lines: ‘a woman’ and ‘a man’ each have rather less, but are both very important to the story and have scenes which they dominate.
André: the central character, a famous writer, aged at least 70, probably more: of unreliable memory. On stage for most of the time, often confused by what is happening and suspicious of others’ motives. Clearly still much attached to his wife.
Madeleine: André’s wife, also at least 70. Capable, dignified, self-possessed, and a caring wife.
Anne: their elder daughter. Old enough to have a daughter at university. Trying to sort out all her father’s papers and diaries, distressed by the current breaking-up of her marriage.
Élise: their younger daughter. Has recently separated from one man in favour of another, not particularly happy, relationship: and it shows.
A woman: actually two different women: one an old acquaintance of André, the other perhaps a neighbour. Her misunderstood recollections drive an entire scene.
A man: slightly older than his lover Élise (35-49?). An estate agent, perhaps involved in trying to sell André’s house? A faint air of menace about him.
If you’re interested, please contact the Production Manager, Carol Bush, at [email protected] or phone 01707 708704.
The Director is John Davies [email protected] – phone 07941 911941.
John Davies
Director
Blackadder Goes Forth
Cast and Crew
Cast
Blackadder – Paul Russell
Baldrick – Andrew Read
Melchett – Andy Mills
George – Steve Deaville
Darling – Carl Westmoreland
Flashheart – Alfie Hart
Sgt. Jones – Mike Smith
Firing Squad – Jacob Greener-Tofts, Cliff Francis, Keith Thompson
Parkhurst – Steph Cotter
Richthofen – Adam Dryer
Mary – Jessica Wall
Brigadier Smith – Mike Smith
Haig – Keith Thompson
Crew
Production Manager – Jacqueline Clayton
Stage Manager – Sharon Francis
ASM – Christine Neal
Lighting – John Cude
Sound – James Rowles
Props – Barbara Foster, Linda Miles
Set Dressing – Pete and Kris Moore
Wardrobe – Anne Mawer, Anne-Marie Austin
Rehearsal Prompt – Anne Woolmington
Director – Keith Thompson
Constellations
Written in the stars
Hi Barn members!
Coral here to tell you a bit about Constellations by Nick Payne – a fascinating recent play now available for amateur performance and performing at the Barn next February (3rd to 11th).
This is such an unusual piece of theatre where we see a relationship unfold, gradually dipping in and out of time-frames and taking place against a backdrop of multi-universes. Where just a slight difference of perspective can alter outcomes. It’s fascinating and intriguing.
I’m getting to grips with the piece as I soak up some much-needed Corsican sun and thinking about the small but dedicated team needed to realise Constellations’ full creative potential. It’s a two-hander. As long as the pair would seem to go together, that will be fine! Male / female / old / young. Whoever they are, they’ll need stamina and resilience and the patience to employ intricate, subtle acting techniques. It’s a short piece, just over an hour, humorous and thought-provoking. It may make you cry.
Alongside experienced actors, experienced technicians are needed. There’s no requirement for a physical set: clever sound, light and projection will hopefully create the multi-universes.
It’s such an exciting project with huge potential if we can get it right. So let me know if you’re interested and up for the challenge! I want to get going soon so thought processes have time to develop. Auditions will be on 9th and 15th October.
Get in touch with me, Coral Walton, on [email protected] if you’d like to audition or be involved.
Coral Walton
Director
Social Scene
Just a minute!
As you’re all aware, we are really looking forward to our first social evening of the 2022/23 season, Just a Minute!
On Saturday 24th September, join our comedic panel Jim Markey, Glyn Maxwell, Lorna Thompson and Anna Morris alongside host Mark O’Sullivan as they come under pressure to talk for a minute, without hesitation, repetition or deviation. Think they can do it? Why don’t you come along to find out?
It will be an evening of guaranteed laughs and entertainment. The event will start at 8pm and the bar will be open from 7.30pm. See you there!
Jazz at the Barn
Great news for all jazz lovers! We’re extremely excited to be able to offer something new for members and the public. I’ve been liaising with a hugely talented jazz musician, Matt Ward, and we’re both proud to present Jazz at the Barn on Friday 16th September at 8pm. Doors will be open from 7.30pm with drinks available at the bar.
The first instalment of Jazz at the Barn kicks off with a stellar line-up of musicians from Welwyn Garden City, fronted by Matt himself. Matt is former lead trumpet of the Oxford University Jazz Orchestra, and currently freelances around London and the Home Counties with jazz ensembles, big bands and soul-funk collective The 52s. He will lead a group comprising some of Hertfordshire’s most prolific jazzers on the scene, playing an eclectic mix of traditional jazz standards, funk charts and blues classics.
Tickets for this event are £7 and can be purchased on the Barn Theatre’s website (barntheatre.co.uk). There are only 50 tickets available and a waiting list will come into operation if needed. Please come down and show your support as Matt and his talented group make their debut at the Barn and we introduce what we hope will become a regular event for the theatre
Save the date
Magic appears at the Barn!
Save Saturday 12th November (8pm, bar open from 7.30pm) when a professional magician and illusionist will take centre stage in the Clubroom! More details to follow in October’s edition of Barn News.
Thank you!
Hannah
Dates for your diary
Auditions
The Height of the Storm
by Florian Zeller
Directed by John Davies
Thursday 29th September 8pm
Sunday 2nd October 2pm
Wednesday 5th October 8pm
All in Room One
Constellations
by Nick Payne
Directed by Coral Walton
Sunday 9th October 2pm
Sunday 15th October 2pm
Both in the Studio
Performances
The Ghost Train
by Arnold Ridley
Directed by Cliff Francis
Friday 30th September to Saturday 8th October
Parlour Song
by Jez Butterworth
Directed by Danny Swanson
Saturday 22nd to Tuesday 25th October in the Studio
Social events
Jazz at the Barn
Friday 16th September at 8pm in the Clubroom
Just a Minute!
Hosted by Mark O’Sullivan
Saturday 24th September at 8pm in the Clubroom
Bar reminder
Barn bar opening hours
Fridays: 8pm to 11pm
Sundays: 1pm to 3pm
Box office reminder
Member tickets are £11 on the opening Friday of most main-stage productions. To access the member price, customers will need the password ‘APPLE’.
Box office telephone: 01707 324300 (Mon to Sat, 9am to 5pm) – a £2 booking fee will apply for all telephone bookings.
The theatre box office will also be open every Sunday from 1pm to 3pm (from 3rd September).
Michael Merry