NEWSLETTER - JUNE 2021
Hi everyone
Welcome to the latest White Cobra newsletter, and this month we're delighted to be able to confirm we will be back on stage with two different shows over the next few weeks!
Incredibly our last performance in front of an audience was on March 14th 2020, when Bernie and Rod staged one of Peter Quilter's Duets, Blind Date. 469 days later we're back! But more on that later.
Let's just start with an update on some of the films and audio plays which will be coming to our YouTube channel shortly.
Firstly, our Sherlock Holmes drama, The Resident Patient, has now been fully recorded, and is in the process of being edited, with the music and sound effect also to be added, this will be available both on YouTube and as a Podcast.
Our four part adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is proceeding apace with the cast now starting work on episode 3.
And there's just one more day's filming to go on our original short film, Running4Ever. It's proving quite a challenge as the film is set in the early evening in late autumn. Obviously early evening in late June is around 9pm, even if the temperatures have felt like late autumn on a few occassions...
So to the stage, and on Saturday June 26th, we become the first theatre group in the county to return to the stage with our Cabaret evening at the White Horse in Old. When we were planning the event, the hope was all Covid restrictions would have been lifted, obviously that's not the case but it will go ahead in a Covid secure environment in the garden at the back of the pub, so please dress appropriately for a British summer evening! The curtain goes up, or at least the tent flaps will be pulled back at 8pm. There will be food to purchase on the night in the garden including a paella, and burgers among many other things, and there will also be a gin bar open in the garden. Hopefully everyone who wanted a ticket got one as it's sold out, but let us know if you would like to be notified of any returns.
So to our second show, and on Tuesday July 20th, we're honoured to have been asked to perform in the final of the British All Winners Drama Festival in Coventry. Usually to be involved you have to have won a dram festival during the previous twelve months, but again thanks to Covid none have taken place, so invitations have been sent to previous winners, and having two wins in the final under our belt we were delighted to be involved.
The adjudicator for the event, from the Guild of Drama Adjudicators is Paul Fowler, and he explains more about the event and White Cobra's part in it here.
Although it's taking place on a "school night" it would be great if anyone can get along to support both White Cobra and the event itself. Stewart Mison, Chair of the National Drama Festivals' Association said:
"I have said many times before that this has been such a wretched year for the performing arts and particularly amateur drama. With that said, and with your help, the NDFA will deliver this year’s ALL WINNERS FESTIVAL in Coventry in just over one month’s time. Bookings can be made online or via the Albany Box Office on 02476 99896. Tickets are £12 per night, £11 concessions and Season Tickets for seven nights of top quality amateur theatre offer the unbelievably good value of £59.50 and £52.50 respectively."
For our entry it's slightly a case of unfinished business. When we first staged Love Letters in 2017, we intended to do a fairly lengthy tour only to find out someone else had the same idea with Ryan O'Neill and Ali MacGraw so were we put on hold. Slightly annoyingly that tour failed to happen. We just managed to get the licence to perform this time after negotiations with the US agents for the play as a West End run with Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrave was just ending. However get it we did, so Fraser Haines and Bernadette Wood will be picking up where they were left off four years ago. Bernie and Fraser were one of four couples to perform the piece for White Cobra, and for Bernie the chance to once again step into Melissa Gardner's shoes was hard to resist!
LOVE LETTERS - Bernie Wood
I hope we get the chance to see you either at the cabaret or at Love Letters, please support the festival in any way you can, it's been a horrible period for theatre, and it's so good to be back!
R&K x
Welcome to the latest White Cobra newsletter, and this month we're delighted to be able to confirm we will be back on stage with two different shows over the next few weeks!
Incredibly our last performance in front of an audience was on March 14th 2020, when Bernie and Rod staged one of Peter Quilter's Duets, Blind Date. 469 days later we're back! But more on that later.
Let's just start with an update on some of the films and audio plays which will be coming to our YouTube channel shortly.
Firstly, our Sherlock Holmes drama, The Resident Patient, has now been fully recorded, and is in the process of being edited, with the music and sound effect also to be added, this will be available both on YouTube and as a Podcast.
Our four part adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is proceeding apace with the cast now starting work on episode 3.
And there's just one more day's filming to go on our original short film, Running4Ever. It's proving quite a challenge as the film is set in the early evening in late autumn. Obviously early evening in late June is around 9pm, even if the temperatures have felt like late autumn on a few occassions...
So to the stage, and on Saturday June 26th, we become the first theatre group in the county to return to the stage with our Cabaret evening at the White Horse in Old. When we were planning the event, the hope was all Covid restrictions would have been lifted, obviously that's not the case but it will go ahead in a Covid secure environment in the garden at the back of the pub, so please dress appropriately for a British summer evening! The curtain goes up, or at least the tent flaps will be pulled back at 8pm. There will be food to purchase on the night in the garden including a paella, and burgers among many other things, and there will also be a gin bar open in the garden. Hopefully everyone who wanted a ticket got one as it's sold out, but let us know if you would like to be notified of any returns.
So to our second show, and on Tuesday July 20th, we're honoured to have been asked to perform in the final of the British All Winners Drama Festival in Coventry. Usually to be involved you have to have won a dram festival during the previous twelve months, but again thanks to Covid none have taken place, so invitations have been sent to previous winners, and having two wins in the final under our belt we were delighted to be involved.
The adjudicator for the event, from the Guild of Drama Adjudicators is Paul Fowler, and he explains more about the event and White Cobra's part in it here.
Although it's taking place on a "school night" it would be great if anyone can get along to support both White Cobra and the event itself. Stewart Mison, Chair of the National Drama Festivals' Association said:
"I have said many times before that this has been such a wretched year for the performing arts and particularly amateur drama. With that said, and with your help, the NDFA will deliver this year’s ALL WINNERS FESTIVAL in Coventry in just over one month’s time. Bookings can be made online or via the Albany Box Office on 02476 99896. Tickets are £12 per night, £11 concessions and Season Tickets for seven nights of top quality amateur theatre offer the unbelievably good value of £59.50 and £52.50 respectively."
The full programme can be found on the Albany Theatre website:
For our entry it's slightly a case of unfinished business. When we first staged Love Letters in 2017, we intended to do a fairly lengthy tour only to find out someone else had the same idea with Ryan O'Neill and Ali MacGraw so were we put on hold. Slightly annoyingly that tour failed to happen. We just managed to get the licence to perform this time after negotiations with the US agents for the play as a West End run with Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrave was just ending. However get it we did, so Fraser Haines and Bernadette Wood will be picking up where they were left off four years ago. Bernie and Fraser were one of four couples to perform the piece for White Cobra, and for Bernie the chance to once again step into Melissa Gardner's shoes was hard to resist!
LOVE LETTERS - Bernie Wood
I hope we get the chance to see you either at the cabaret or at Love Letters, please support the festival in any way you can, it's been a horrible period for theatre, and it's so good to be back!
R&K x