With the release of the new film about the Home Guard this month and the repeat of the original series on BBC2, the adventures of Dad’s Army are once again in the public eye. Following the sell out success last May and by popular request, the Market Weighton Community Players are staging repeat performances the much loved TV classic written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft.

Producer Helen Lawley told us: “So many people have said how disappointed they were not to have been able to get tickets last May that a repeat performance seemed the right thing to do, especially with the release of Oliver Parker’s new film.”

Director John Heaton commented: “ We have been fortunate to be able to bring back the same cast and audiences can once again enjoy seeing well known local personalities such as Nigel Botting as Captain Mainwaring; Peter Thorp as Private Fraser; Clive Turgoose as Private Godfrey; Noreen Thorp as Mrs Pike and The Reverend Peter Nelson as the Brigadier. Period music will provided by the wonderful Weighton Waytes resplendent in 1940’s period fashion as the Walmington-on-Sea Village Choir. This is a production not to be missed”.

Performances are at The Social Club, Southgate, Market Weighton at 7:30pm on Thursday 3rd; Friday 4th and Saturday 5th March 2016. Tickets will be on sale at The Post Office and The Paper Shop, Market Weighton from Friday 5th February priced at £7.00 and, as with other recent productions by The Players, are likely to be snapped up quickly.

Editors Note: The Dress Rehearsal is scheduled at The Market Weighton Social Club on Tuesday 1st March when other photographs of the cast could be taken. Active since 1947, The Market Weighton Community Players is a vibrant drama group which exists to encourage and support the development of the performing arts in the community of Market Weighton and the surrounding villages. Once expenses have been met, The Players aim to make donations to other local groups and charities engaged in Community work. Membership is free and open to all and there are a variety of activities taking place throughout the year including street theatre and radio plays on Vixen 101.

The ‘Players have a full and varied programme ahead and are eager to hear from local people of any age wanting to join for future productions in any capacity.

Contacts: The Market Weighton Community Players:

Peter Warner ( Chair) Tel 01430 861195; Mob 07999 483809

Email: warnerhome@btinternet.com.

The cast are hard at work rehearsing for the next production by Market Weighton Community Players. Following their recent, sell out productions of ‘Allo ‘Allo and Dad’s Army the ‘Players have turned to a murder mystery comedy to bring more fun to their audiences.

The play is called “Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall murders” and is a well drafted, funny and witty story about multiple murders in a typical village. Written by Derek Webb the production features some accurate and amusing portraits of likely suspects from the Vicar to the Cleaner. Confusion continues as bodies pile up and the incompetent D.I. loses the plot.

The “whodunnit” is cleverly disguised until the end and solving the plot will amuse and tax the audience. As usual with the ‘Players some well known local residents are featured in roles well outside their comfort zone which adds further to the comedy.

Performances are on Thursday 12^th; Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th November at 7:30pm at The Market Weighton Social Club, Southgate, Market Weighton. Tickets, priced £7:00 are on sale now at the Post Office and The Paper Shop, Market Weighton.

The ‘Community Players have also announced that, following market demand, they are to stage a repeat showing of Dad’s Army on 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th March 2016 again at The Market Weighton Social Club.

Cast

Harry - The Village Hall keeper, Chris Sparke

Agatha - Crime novelist, Jayne Thomas

Alice - Agatha’s sister – in – law, Pauline Taylor

Olivia - Upper crust landed gentlewoman, Nigel Botting

Eleanor - Chair of the hall committee, Cheryl Cutsforth

Twigg - Detective Inspector, Peter Warner

Maisie - The cleaner, Sam Fuller

Toby - The vicar,  Clive Turgoose

PC Lockett - The village bobby, Adam Lloyd

Isabella - Pub landlady, Val Moulder

Oliver - Olivia’s brother,  Nigel Botting

Mandy - A model, Caroline Mellor

Mortimer - A Villager, Bob Long

Tina - Musical Committee member, Helen Lawley

Paramedics - Andrew Frankland Barber & Gareth Thomas

Production Team

Director - Helen Lawley

Producer - Peter Warner

Stage Manager - Carol Drinkwater

Assistant Stage Manager - Fiona Green

Properties - Members of the Cast

Costumes - Val Moulder

Set Design & Construction - Jan Jones/ Len Kirby/ John Moulder/ Gareth Thomas/ Bill Green/ Chris Sparke/ Bob Long

Lighting & Sound - Brenda Cullen/ John Moulder

Prompt - Ann Warner

Front of House -  Gill Botting/ Sue Long/ Angela Leaman / Evelyn Kirby/ Gena Charlton

Photography - John Moulder

Transport - Richard Henley

Once again, pantomime fever is taking over Market Weighton as schools, businesses, children, Mums & Dads get involved in the town’s exciting new production.

As is normal for panto’s in the town, the stage at The Market Weighton School is set to be filled with representatives from every walk of town life. A veteran as director of over twenty pantomimes, Bob Long is not satisfied unless he has the stage filled with local business men performing well outside their comfort zone and with local school children taking their first tentative steps in the performing arts.

This years show is that old favourite “Dick Whittington” although how a bunch of local “Yorkshiremen”, cyclists from “Le Grand Depart”  and local choir “Weighton Waytes” get to feature in the storyline initially seems to stretch expectations somewhat. Audiences need have no fear however as skilful drafting by Bob and his script writer Rosemary Waugh knit the plot together resulting in typical mayhem and a great many laughs for everyone, audiences and cast alike.

Performances are at The Market Weighton School, Spring Road Market Weighton at 7:00pm on Thursday 5^th and Friday 6^th and at 6:00pm on Saturday 7^th March. As usual it promises to be a sell out. Tickets are currently on sale at The Post Office and The Paper Shop in Market Weighton.

Once this comedic extravaganza is over and before the cast have time to recover, they start rehearsals for their next production which is episodes of “Dads Army” the well known TV series written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. These will be performed at The Market Weighton Social Club on 7^th, 8^th & 9^th May to coincide with VE Day 70^th Anniversary Celebrations in the town.

Editors Note: The Dress Rehearsal is scheduled at The Market Weighton School for Sunday 1^st March when photographs of the cast could be taken.

Active since 1947, The Market Weighton Community Players exists to encourage and support the development of the performing arts in the community of Market Weighton and the surrounding villages. Membership is free and open to all and there are a variety of activities taking place throughout the year including street theatre and radio plays on Vixen 101.

The ‘Players are eager to hear from local people wanting to join for future productions.

Contacts:  The Market Weighton Community Players:         

Peter Warner ( Chair)  Tel 01430 861195; Mob 07999 483809

Email: warnerhome@btinternet.com.

With a busy forward programme and like any other society, Market Weighton Community Players needs new members in order to continue and prosper. New members bring new ideas and fresh talents which add to the existing pool of skill and experience.

As part of their ongoing drive to find new members, the ‘Players have held two events recently both of which have been successful.

In addition to displays featuring photographs, press cuttings, programmes and other memorabilia from past productions, there was a colourful slide show featuring shows from as far back as the 1950’s through to the present day. This material provoked a great many happy memories as well as causing much amusement by comparing “then” and “now” images of players over the years. The effects of hair loss and gravity were much in evidence. Much time was also spent in trying to recall the identity of cast members from the past.

Each year the ‘Players take part in the Market Weighton Giant Bradley Community Day. This event is always well attended and the variety of stalls and activities outstanding. In 2015 The Players hope to perform some street theatre  to entertain the large crowds that gather. In addition, on their stall, the ‘Players provide interest by demonstrating their long history and breadth of their activity and expertise.

These events bring to the Community much pleasure and amusement and resulted in the recruitment of a number of new members as well as the promise of a return from former players.