Thank you to everyone who came along to see A Bunch of Amateurs this May. The cast really enjoyed performing for you and we hope that you all enjoyed it as much as we did.
We look forward to seeing you again for our next production which will be a Pantomime in early December. The play has yet to be chosen but we will post details here when we choose one.
The last rehearsal has taken place and the cast and crew are all ready to hit the boards with an audience in the hall on Thursday 5th May.
We are all looking forwards to welcoming you all to see the play. It has been a work of love by the Director who read the play over two years ago and immediately wanted to put it on. Sadly though it was rehearsed last year it had to be cancelled at the last minute as Covid Regulations were not lifted in time for the performances.
But we are are now ready and Group Eight will be presenting ‘Bunch of Amateurs’ three times this week (Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th). Tickets available online here or you may pay on the door. All performances curtain up at 19:45.
Some arty photos below of the cast at the final dress rehearsal.
April 23rd is the anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth and death day. Group Eight were appropriately busy rehearsing Bunch of Amateurs which is all about a cast enriched by the presence of a Hollywood star putting on King Lear.
Next weekend is dress rehearsal weekend and the week after the performances will take place on May 5th, 6th and 7th. Tickets available at this link http://groupeight.co.uk/buy-your-tickets/
We all hope to see you then!
Cast working hard at rehearsal whilst the Director seems to have time to mess around and stick his tongue out!! Cast are getting to grips with their characters so we can look forward to a great set of performances.
The Director showing his ‘serious’ side.
Rehearsals for a Bunch of Amateurs are now underway. Watching the cast rehearse shows just how good the script is. Everyone is trying hard to get into the characters they are playing and it should be great play to come and see.
We are also busy obtaining some new sound equipment as well as getting the new staging made up taking advantage of the grants that our former Chairperson, Ann King, worked so hard to get.
Spring 2022 is proving to be a very busy time for Group Eight!
And don’t forget, your tickets for Bunch of Amateurs can be bought here.
At a recent EGM Hugh Jones was proposed as our new Secretary and quickly seconded.
The Group would like to thank Hugh for volunteering to take on this important role.
This great play written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman is now scheduled for Thursday May 5th to Saturday 7th May. We rehearsed this play which was due to be presented in June last year but at the last moment extended Covid restrictions prevented us from performing it. Alan Campbell is Directing this play and the cast is currently being finalised as one or two of the cast from last year are no longer available.
We all look forward to a great production. Watch this space as we intend to share a few rehearsal shots now rehearsals are under way!
Tickets for this production are now available online. Just click here to visit our Buy Your Tickets page..
Our 2021 Chairperson Ann King, and Treasurer Richard Graham have decided to stand down and Group Eight would like to thank them for all their hard work and for keeping the group together whilst Covid made things so difficult for us all.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) elected a new Chairperson Alan Campbell and Treasurer Jennie Razzaq. We all wish them luck in their new roles and thank them for taking on the challenge.
We do not currently have a Secretary and we will be encouraging people to consider taking on the role before we have an Exceptional General Meeting (EGM) later in the year.
The new Chairperson Alan Campbell has sent this message to all members:
“Hi folks Just to say that its an honour to be the new Chair of Group 8. Some great points were raised at the meeting last night, and all will be looked at. I welcome Jennie as the Treasurer, taking over the role from Richard, who has decided to hang up his acting and accounting boots for the moment.
There are a few things we do need to sort, and it is a challenge for everyone.
Firstly, we need to elect a group secretary, I’ll arrange an EGM for this express purpose in the coming weeks. So if you want to do it, give me a shout and I’ll try to explain some of the duties. But it is necessary.
Secondly, we also need someone to be the Director for the 2022 Panto, in December. We can organise some script readings, Ideally we would like one selected well before May, and preferably before Lesley’s Dancers show in March so we can advertise well in advance.
Then the third and biggest challenge…. Group 8 needs more active members, we are at a bare minimum at present. So each and every active member should attempt to bring in at least one new person we do interesting and challenging plays and pantos, with many places for both acting and non acting. We do have a wealth of talent within our small numbers, so lets make expanding the group base one of those.
And finally huge thanks to Ann and Richard, for their sterling work during the toughest couple of years of Group 8’s existence. Keeping it together during times when it would have been easy to just let go, pulling together a wonderful panto, and bringing the group together and on stage again. The stage door will always be open and welcoming to both of you.
I look forward to the months and years ahead. “
Having had to cancel this show part way through rehearsals last year Group Eight hope that 2022 will see Ian HIslop and Nick Newman’s excellent play being performed at Hackleton Village Hall.
More news will be posted here once the Director has started rehearsals early in the New Year.
Group Eight are pleased to have finally got back on stage and had a great time performing Paul Reakes f Little Red Riding Hood. Thank you to all who came along and supported us!