NEWSLETTER OCT 2022
Hello everyone
Welcome to our latest update.
Firstly everyone at White Cobra hopes you had a great summer, and were able to enjoy the lovely weather - even if it was a little warm at times! We FINALLY got to perform our summer show The Wind in the Willows, originally planned for Summer 2020, then Summer 2021, and third time lucky in Summer 2022! We got to perform in some amazing venues including Delapre Abbey in Northampton and two beautiful National Trust properties - Kinver Edge Rock Houses, and Benthall Hall - both well worth a visit if you get the chance.
Looking forward to the Autumn, and we have three productions coming up before Christmas which we look forward to seeing you at.
Our Autumn Theatre production is Willy Russell's classic play Educating Rita. Due to restrictions on the license we're not able to tour as originally planned, but it means we can do a full week in Northampton at The Playhouse Theatre in Clare Street (including a matinee) - our first show there since The Beauty Queen of Leenane in 2019!
The cast features Fraser Haines, and for the first time in a White Cobra production Olivia Hulley, it's also a directorial debut for Louise Drage, but the play is one Lou knew very well.....
Educating Rita is being performed at The Playhouse from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th November 2022, with performances at 7.45pm, and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets on sale here: https://www.whitecobra.co.uk/tickets
Just prior to Educating Rita, our next audio play is being released. The Filter Room by Richard Hearn is set in Britain during the Covid pandemic, and also during the Second World War. The cast includes Janice Shortland who's been part of the Northampton theatre community for more years than she cares to remember, but is making her White Cobra debut.
The rest of the cast comprises Vicky Kelly, Martin Borley-Cox, Rebecca Cockcroft and Ben Stanton, with a few other voices thrown in for good effect. It's a fabulous funny and moving piece, and will be available on our Youtube Channel and various podcast channels from Fri 11 November.
Our third production takes to the stage just before Christmas with performances at Delapre Abbey, The Sun Inn in Kislingbury, Moulton Library and Hoby Village Hall. It's a brand new take on Charles Dickens' classic ghost story A Christmas Carol.
There's a wonderful chance to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Masque Theatre at the museum in Abington Park. Northampton's oldest community theatre group started life as The Northampton Town and County Drama League in 1931, and staged its first production Street Scene the following year. Many of us in White Cobra have been members of Masque Theatre, and the exhibition which is open every weekend afternoon until the 4th December, is a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Finally, we were devastated to hear the news that Roger Toone died recently. Roger was a fantastic supporter of White Cobra, and indeed all theatre across Northampton. Although he never appeared in one of our shows, his son Ed Toone was in both Hi-De-Hi and Twelfth Night. Roger appeared regularly for Masque Theatre in Northampton in many of the group's summer shows including Richard III, earlier this summer, just a few weeks before he died.
As well as theatre, Roger loved cricket and had been involved with Harlestone Cricket Club for around twenty years as a player, Chairman and umpire. He also loved to travel. Roger was also a great family man, I remember just a few weeks ago talking to him about the birth of our first granddaughter, and him sharing his feelings when his first granddaughter arrived.
Roger was a gentleman, always cheerful, kind and generous. He will be sadly missed. Our condolences go to his wife Sally, Ed, and the rest of his family and friends.
Roger, Ed, and Bernie Wood in Masque Theatre's production of Antony and Cleopatra in 2017.
We look forward to seeing you in November and December and thank you for your continued support to enable theatre to survive.
Best wishes
Richard & Kate