GTG NEWSSpring is here at last and with it the first edition, for 2016, of GTG News! We feature an appreciation of our swashbuckling Christmas panto, Treasure Island. We look forward with considerable anticipation to our Spring musical, Evita, which tells the extraordinary story of the life of Eva Perón. Tickets are selling very fast, not surprisingly, as we are the only group in the South East, amateur or professional, producing Evita this year. We talk to Nick Wyschna, who plays Che and Jo Kirkland, who plays Eva Perón. We remember, with fondness, Eve Prebble, one half of GTG’s much loved ‘double act’ and we bring you up to date with a News Round Up. Regrettably we close on a very sad note…

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Treasure Island the Panto

Our guest reporter, Sarah Goddard, best known as Eric or Patsy, (in fairness she has also played a variety of roles including young Edward in Titanic and Mimi Labonq in ‘Allo ‘Allo!) thoroughly enjoyed her experience as a pirate and shares her personal highlights from the Christmas panto:

Who wants to be a pirate?‘Hands up who has always wanted to be a pirate? Now come on, I know that even just a small part of you has always wanted that opportunity to find some treasure, have a sword fight and walk around saying ‘Ahrrr’ a lot!

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Well my dreams came true last year when I got a call from the Treasure Island team asking if I would accept the part of a pirate! ‘Yes, most definitely yes’ I cried! I was born to do this. Then came the response: ‘and by the way your character is called Blind Puke, and you will be killed off in Scene 3!’ Oh yeah, that’s typical I thought, but still Sarah you are a pirate! Wow! And what a ride it was. Despite my love of pirates being an open door, with such a strong cast, great musical numbers and dance routines, and not to mention an entire pirate ship on stage, it was a whole new world of wonder. In no time at all we were all aboard in a race to find Captain Squint’s treasure and having the swashbuckling time of our lives.

Putting on Treasure Island the Panto was no mean feat. Coming in the final moments to save the day Polly and Eddie took it in their stride and worked so hard I thought they would bend and snap! It’s not easy to control a bunch of pirates and ‘quality’ to produce such an eye catching, family friendly interactive show out of an actually sizeable quite complicated story with nowhere near fifteen men or a bottle of rum in sight! Never mind deciding to do a first for GTG with backing tracks and newly written lyrics for some songs! However with a fantastic crew, motley or otherwise, we pulled it off and had lots of fun doing so. Although at least one pirate made a

bid for promotion to Captain by breaking her foot and hobbling around on crutches like Long John Slither (or was it a cunning plan by Pink Dog? The jury is still out) - and there were a couple of ‘man overboard’ incidents that weren’t planned!

I definitely think the audience had no idea just how much fun they could have with polystyrene coconuts or going this way, that way, forwards and backwards over the deep blue sea! From a Spanish nobleman with tourettes (‘ole!’), a loopy, trolley driving, ex pirate tea lady that doesn’t stop talking, and a ‘Quality’ captain who definitely is trashing the camp side of male superior officer, you just couldn’t make these characters up. Put together on a set that the National Theatre would be proud of (wait a minute?!).

With such a hard working tightly knit group of actors, directors, backstage crew, props, front of house, to name but a few, this show was a joy to be a part of, and I am so glad I was allowed to be resurrected as a different pirate for the rest of the show as I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. This showed that when GTG go together in a crisis, we can reach for the stars and look forward to a bright new day and overcome all that jazz.’

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GTG is thrilled to be presenting the multi award winning musical, Evita, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It tells the extraordinary story of the Argentine political leader, Eva Perón (1919 – 1952), the second wife of the Argentine president, Juan Perón.

This iconic musical features a wonderful array of timeless songs including Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, Oh What A Circus, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, High Flying Adored, and Another Suitcase in Another Hall.

The story follows Eva’s life as a radio and film actress in Buenos Aires, her encounter with, and subsequent marriage to, the fast rising and immensely popular politician, Juan Perón, and her own rise to power. Instrumental in the formation of the ‘Peronist Women’s Party’ and the ‘Eva Perón Foundation’ for charitable works among the nation’s poor, Eva gained international attention during her ‘Rainbow Tour’ of Europe to promote Argentinian interests.

She became the object of intense, almost mystical, adoration by the country’s common people, who wanted her to assume political power in her own right, as Vice President. However, Eva would never achieve this goal. She was diagnosed with terminal

cancer and died at the age of 33. A measure of her enormous appeal among her fellow citizens could be seen in the outpouring of grief that followed her death. Close to a million Argentinians crowded the streets of Buenos Aires for her funeral procession and three million mourners filed past her coffin to pay their last respects. The myth of ‘Santa Evita’ was kept alive by frequent requests to the Vatican for her canonization.

Oh What a Circus – Oh What a Show!

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21 years after her death, her myth was revived when Tim Rice happened to hear a documentary about Perón on his car radio inspiring him to develop the idea of a musical treatment of her life. Initially Lloyd Webber and Rice decided to record Evita as an album musical. It was released in 1976 with Julie Covington as Eva, Paul Jones as Perón, Colm Wilkinson as Che, Barbara Dickson as the Mistress and Tony Christie as Magaldi. It was a huge success. The stage musical opened two years later, in 1978 with Elaine Paige, David Essex and Joss Ackland as Perón. The Broadway version, starring Patti Lupone, opened in 1979. The movie version, directed by Alan Parker and starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas was released in 1996. Evita was revived in London in 2006, with Argentine actress Elena Roger.

Thanks to its compelling dramatic storyline and wonderful musical score, Evita remains a musical theatre classic.

GTG’s Director Keith Thomas says:

‘Up until now only professional producers or schools have been allowed to stage it – so, imagine my delight when The Really Useful group, who manage the Lloyd Webber and Rice catalogue, finally agreed to issue a license to GTG. We understand dozens of groups applied, but only GTG and a group in Yeovil were selected this year. We are very proud to have been chosen. We are working hard to bring the story and songs to life in a way that will really excite our audiences; a highly entertaining and memorable theatrical experience that we hope people of all ages will enjoy.’

There are only 6 performances - from Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th April, at the Ben Travers Theatre at Charterhouse School, Godalming. Book now - because tickets are selling very fast and over 85% have already been sold at time of writing this newsletter.

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Nick Wyschna plays Che, the role sung on the original 1976 album by Colm Wilkinson and played in the original West End production by David Essex. Mandy Patinkin played Che in the original Broadway production and Antonio Banderas in the 1996 movie.

Nick has been associated with GTG since he was 14 years old, when he joined the theatre group to perform in Lionel Bart’s Blitz. He explains that he was spotted by family friend and GTG stalwart, Pam Hemelryk singing 60’s songs at Fairlands Village Hall and invited to be part of the cast. Nick remembers that his fireman’s costume featured a massive scarf

that was knitted for him by his Aunt! Nick says his early interest in music developed when he realised it was a way of getting out of the less interesting classes at Guildford County School: ‘I wasn’t much of a school person’. He soon became a member of the GTG Youth Group [GYTG] with David Dray and his contemporaries included Daniella and Caroline Gibb, Gemma Hodgkiss, Mary, Ben and John Gallacher. Nick says it was a group ‘full of talent and loads of fun’.

According to Nick, GTG was ‘part of his family - his upbringing’. He appeared in many productions such as Bye Bye Birdie, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and Honk. Nick also sang with the GTG/Peter Roberts Revue, with Joel Llufrio. ‘I had a such a great time’.

Sadly, his father died when Nick was only 17 and he describes GTG at the time as having ‘a massive heart’ and he was so grateful for all the love and support he received. At the time Nick had gained a scholarship to study drama and musical theatre at Arts Educational, but explains that, in the circumstances, he didn’t have the heart to continue. But talent will always out and three years later he was accepted by the Royal Academy of Music on their prestigious post graduate diploma programme training students for careers in professional theatre. Nick recalls that as one of the best years of his life.

After training Nick went straight into a Christmas extravaganza, followed by various productions, The West End Experience, The Dancing Queen, The Spirit of Broadway before joining the European tour of Mamma Mia! for 18 months,

Interview with Nick Wyschna (Che)

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where he understudied and played the part of Harry. He has a solo album called ‘Lost in the Wilderness. Nick also featured in Scandalous! the Musical, which was co-written by GTG chairman, Keith Thomas. Scandalous! played in New Orleans and most recently at London’s Bridewell Theatre.

Nick continued to enjoy a successful professional career until just a few years ago when he decided he didn’t want to tour any more. He had the idea to create a local fringe theatre company, inspired by the Landor in Clapham North, which is a theatre space over a pub. He knew the space at The Star in Guildford and thought he would like to set up something similar. Nick was also keen to produce something in which he would play the lead, rather than covering roles. His first venture, with Daniella Gibb, was The Last Five Years, written by Jason Robert Brown, which was a huge off-Broadway success in 2001. Nick’s production was a popular choice and so the Guildford Fringe was born.

He began networking with other groups in Guildford and realised there were many like-minded people who were keen to work together creatively through mutually beneficial relationships. Nick says that the Fringe was built and has been sustained through a network of business relationships. The Fringe Festival developed as a result of the huge amount of interest generated by local artists and performers. Nick explains that it was a way of getting people together in a rich mix of theatre, comedy, music, visual arts, kids events, workshops, talks. The planning for 2016’s multi arts festival is now underway with over 1800 events to schedule. The GTG singers with Peter

Roberts performed as part of last year’s Festival and will be performing again in 2016 (see below).

Even when Nick was enjoying a professional career he came back to perform in David Dray’s 2009 production of My Fair Lady and again, as Frank Butler in David’s Annie Get Your Gun in 2010. Many people will remember his beautiful delivery of the lovely Irving Berlin song ‘The Girl that I Marry’. Nick remembers singing that at his successful audition for the recent Lincoln Centre/Barbican revival of South Pacific, Nick’s last major professional production, where he was cast as Adams, one of the Seabees.

Nick was very keen to play Che in Evita, a role he has always wanted to play. He was at one time up for the role of Magaldi, in the 2006 London revival, but in the end the part was cast elsewhere. Another attraction for Nick is Keith Thomas. Nick is a huge fan of Keith’s directing talents and high production values. He is also thrilled to be playing opposite Jo Kirkland as Eva. And we can’t wait to hear Nick sing ‘High Flying Adored’…

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This is Jo’s first GTG production and we are thrilled to welcome her! Jo’s professional theatre credits include Trevor Nunn’s production of A Chorus of Disapproval (Harold Pinter Theatre), Jennifer Gabriel in The Witches of Eastwick (No. 1 Tour), Iola Stover in Parade (Donmar

Warehouse), Show Boat (Royal Albert Hall), The Woman in White (Palace Theatre), Peter Pan and The Pirates of Penzance (Savoy).

Jo has recently taken some time out from her acting career to have a baby. She says: ‘Evita is proving a wonderful way to get back on form and really push myself with such a demanding, dream role!’ Jo is equally pleased to have joined the GTG family, ‘GTG are a really welcoming, hard-working, fun group of people and I am loving my time with them’.

Jo finds that playing a real person is ‘always an interesting challenge’. She has been drawing on many biographies and documentaries in her preparation for the role as she feels ‘a duty to fully capture the actual person’. She says that will ‘help a lot in the creative process’ as she gets to grips with Eva Perón and her inner dictator! We are really looking forward to Jo’s performance!

Interview with Joanna Kirkland (Eva Perón)

GTG members gathered at the Legion in Guildford on Tuesday 23 February , where host Nick Wyschna was on hand to welcome all the eager contestants. The Quiz, devised by our ingenious and quizzical Geoff Embleton, with questions presented by Quiz Master Keith Thomas, was held to raise funds for the Spring show. 8 teams competed for the winner’s bottle of champagne. Here is the winning team (who were also the loudest), the ‘Clueless Chorus’, evidently well pleased with their achievement!

Evita ‘Pub Quiz’!

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On 14 December many GTG members attended a service of thanksgiving in Haslemere for the life of Eve Prebble and Keith Thomas, GTG Chairman delivered the

eulogy, paying tribute to her invaluable contribution to the fabric of the Godalming Theatre Group over so many years and saying how much she would be missed. Eve’s husband of 59 years, Bill Prebble, said how moved he was by the number of GTG members present and how delighted he was by the lusty hymn singing. Many people have commented subsequently to Paul, Eve and Bill’s son, that his mother’s funeral service was the most ‘vocal’ service they have ever attended. Paul suggested that given that there was a church full of performers that was hardly surprising!

Eve and husband Bill ran the GTG bar for over 20 years, only retiring after the 2008 pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, when Eve was 88. The couple had worked in the foyer of the Ben Travers Theatre serving drinks to GTG audiences for three productions a year since the 1980s. They managed something like 500 performances, and that’s not including Annual General Meetings and social events where they also presided over the bar. On the occasion of their retirement, Keith Thomas, Chairman paid tribute to Eve and Bill’s ‘unstinting work for GTG’, which he

said was ‘legendary’. In recognition of their achievement, the couple received lifetime honorary memberships as Vice Presidents of the Group. Paul Prebble, Eve and Bill’s talented son and regular GTG performer, joined GTG to play Cornelius Hackle in Hello Dolly (1984). A few years after that, Eve, Bill and Paul’s partner, Len began to help out with front of house duties. Bill and Len then started working behind the bar with Eve front of house. Latterly Eve moved behind the bar and eventually Bill and Eve took over completely. And she loved it. Paul says she loved seeing people. ‘She always had a smile, always had time for a chat’. What she really enjoyed was seeing GTG’s youngsters, ‘like Daniella and Caroline Gibb, growing up’.

Paul remembers that the early years behind the bar were not for the faint hearted - apparently there were very few facilities. For example there was no access to running water for washing up, so water had to be collected in buckets before the bar opened. All the glasses were then taken home to the Prebbles after each show to be thoroughly washed, dried and polished for the following evening.

After their ‘retirement’ Eve and Bill continued as staunch supporters of GTG, seeing every show. Eve saw everything Paul was in whether that was with GTG or further afield. Indeed just before Eve died, after having a slight stroke, she was still determined to be discharged from hospital on the Friday evening so that she wouldn’t miss Paul on

Eve Prebble - a double act to remember!

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the Saturday matinee, as Max in Alex Parker’s Sunset Boulevard at the Yvonne Arnaud. Apparently Eve had agreed with the doctors and nurses that, even if she was detained in hospital, arrangements would be made for her to get to the theatre! She got there - but sadly Sunset Boulevard was the last production that Eve was to see.

Bill is determined to maintain the family association with GTG and already has his ticket for Evita. But it is bound to be a poignant visit.

Following our sell out performance of Songs for a Summers Evening at last year’s Guildford Fringe Festival, GTG are delighted to return this year with another musical journey.

Born to be Me at Glive on Tuesday 26th July features the songs that influence our lives, take us back to those special moments or people, the songs we love, the ones that make us happy, even the songs that makes us sad or nostalgic. Music quite simply makes us what we are. Join GTG led by Musical Director, Peter Roberts, for a thrilling evening of songs that will awaken your senses. To book tickets £12.50 call Glive Box Office 0844 7701 797 or log on Glive.co.uk

Born To Be Me – Tuesday 26th July GLive

News Roundup…

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...is the name of the new weekly singing class set up by Joel Llufrio, with the incomparable, MD Peter Roberts. We meet every Thursday evening at 7.30pm, currently at St. John’s Church in Farncombe. You’ll find many GTG members attending to sing Peter’s wonderful arrangements of an eclectic mix of music. ‘Inspirational, energising - and fun’ is the verdict. Come and join us! Each week you learn 3 or

4 new numbers so each class is ‘stand alone’ and you have the satisfaction of completing one medley, so if you miss a week it doesn’t matter just come along the next time. The medleys will form the basis of the two concerts above DHMT and Born to Be Me so do come along! At just £10 a class it is amazing value too. Contact Joel on joel-peter@hotmail.com or just turn up.

THEBIGROUPSING...

This fantastic “show in a day” concert which funds to provide bursaries to young people wanting to train in the performing arts, returns for the 15th year!

On Sunday July 3rd a large number of talented performers will take part including: the Born to be Me singers who will give an advance taster of the Glive event detailed above, a special appearance by some of the cast of GTG Calendar Girls, GYTG and many more. Applications are now being taken for potential acts so if you want to be part of this annual GTG event as a solo artist (turn up at 10am on the day fully rehearsed to go on stage) or as part of the singing ensemble (GTG Monday night rehearsals from 23rd May with Peter Roberts) then contact Mad Gibb on m.gibb197@btinternet.com

Tickets £12.50 are already on sale at www.thelittleboxoffice.com/dhmt

The Desmond Holt Memorial Trust Concert 2016

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Guildford Amateur Theatre Association, or GATA, is an umbrella organisation consisting of almost 20 community theatre groups, promoting the interests of community theatre and public education in the dramatic arts, in and around Guildford. GATA held its AGM on 16 February. The meeting was reminded that Guildford Borough

Council launched a public consultation on the future of the Electric Theatre on 25 January. GATA urges its members to have their say about this valuable resource. To add your voice and ensure as many people as possible give their views complete the survey here: http://www.guildford.gov.uk/electrictheatre/survey

GATA AGM

In the last edition of GTG News we featured an article from GTG Youth group alumna, Rebecca Gwyther. She has been selected to be part of the Stone Crabs Young Directors Festival 2016 at The Albany Theatre

thealbany.org.uk on 16 March when she will be directing the Tennessee Williams one act play The Fat Man’s Wife.

Do check it out!

Headways Festival

GTG’s Autumn play will be Cash on Delivery. Michael Cooney’s (son of Ray) riotous farce has all the ingredients for rib-tickling hilarity and offers a colourful selection of character roles for both men and women.

Eric Swan (aided by his Uncle George and unbeknown to his wife, Linda) has pocketed thousands of pounds through fraudulent DSS claims. When Norman Bassett (the lodger) opens the door to Mr Jenkins, the DSS Inspector, mayhem follows! Add in a visit from the undertaker, bereavement counsellor, psychiatrist, Norman’s fiancée, a corpse, the ominous Ms Cowper and a rather rebellious washing machine and you have the makings of an hysterically funny, fast moving production!

Director David Dray will be assembling a cast of ten talented people for this side-splitting comedy. Full details will be sent out shortly but note in your diary now readthrough/auditions Wednesday 11th and 18th May at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre and the play runs from 25th – 29th October at Priors Field Theatre.

GTG October Play announced!

by Michael Cooney

directed by David Dray

At Priors Field Theatre, Godalming25 - 29 October 2016At Priors Field Theatre, Godalming

25 - 29 October 2016This amateur production by Arrangement with Samuel French Limited

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Sadly we conclude this Newsletter with a few words from Chairman, Keith Thomas on the recent death of founder member, gifted character actress and much loved friend and colleague, Helen Riddy. Helen passed away after a short and very courageous battle with cancer. We will be sharing our memories of Helen in the next Newsletter…

“On Sunday 21st February GTG lost our much loved Helen Riddy, who sadly died of cancer. Helen was one my oldest and dearest friends; I was 14 when I first met her at Busbridge Youth Club. I will miss her so much. Helen was one of the early members of GTG and I have lost count of how many theatre productions we were involved in together. She was a wonderful actress who took her hobby very seriously. Over the years she played many roles – but I have a fond memory of her performance as Yente

in Fiddler on the Roof; she was perfect! But it was Helen’s, kindness and generosity, her sense of humour, and the wonderful cakes she made for each rehearsal, that made her mark on all of us at GTG. She was loved by everyone. I don’t think any of us can believe this has really happened. Our commiserations go to Helen’s mother Margaret, her husband Tony and their sons Peter, Jack and their families. Rest in peace, Helen. We will always remember you.”

Helen Riddy

‘Helen, our Calendar Girl, as Jessie in GTG’s 2013 production of Calendar Girls’

Helen as ‘Yente’ in the GTG 50th Anniversary concert

BECOME A FRIEND OF GODALMING THEATRE GROUP!

Godalming Theatre Group’s Friends and supporters are vital to its survival. Although we work hard to ensure our productions break even, this is not always possible. In addition, we have costume/prop storage and general running costs that can run into thousands of pounds every year. Our future, therefore, depends on our ability to attract financial support from those who love community theatre.

What is the Friends of GTG Scheme?Friends of GTG pay £10 per month by standing order/direct debit/PayPal - or pay a one off annual payment of £120. In return they can book two tickets free of charge for each show booking on line, selecting their own performance and seats, and are given a personal phone booking service if they prefer - offered by Lorna Embleton and Joy Barnham who are both long-time members of GTG. In addition, Friends of GTG are notified when the box office is about to open so that they can get the very best seats - and we also acknowledge their generous support in our programmes.

If you would like to become a Friend of GTG, please complete and send us the slip below, together with your first month’s subscription of £10. We will then contact you to set up the automatic monthly payment. OR, enclose a cheque for the £120 annual subscription. If you would like to discuss the scheme further, please contact Joy Barnham on 01483 418536.

I would like to become a Friend of Godalming Theatre Group

enclose a cheque for or please contact me for credit/debit card details

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Hilary Harwood, GTG PR and Communications, welcomes any comments and suggestions you may have for future editions of the newsletter.

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