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Chris Jarvis

Chris is not only in tonight’s show, he also wrote part of it! The script linking the three radio plays is all Chris’s own work, and is very much in keeping with the radio plays themselves.

Adrian Laing

Adrian is back on stage as a debonair actor from Hollywood in tonight’s performance. A Wheatsheaf favourite, Adrian has appeared in nearly every play this year, and when he is not busy on stage, he is putting his talents to designing and constructing the set.

Cast Profile

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Cast Profile

Graham Shelton

Graham is able to show off his vocal skills in tonight’s performance, by not only playing the announcer, but by taking several different roles within the radio plays. It is not always easy to manage different accents, but Graham manages it effortlessly.

Jo Russell

We are glad to have Jo back on stage after a bit of a break. Star struck Wendy is a far cry from Jo herself, who is single-mindedly pushing the Godiva Awards. Let’s hope we win again!

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Jo Crawley

Jo jumped at the chance to play the Foley artist in this play, and has dug out, devised and constructed many of the sound effects herself.

Heather Evans

Heather is directing this play as well as taking a part in it – something that has been a regular feature this year! Let’s hope the stress hasn’t driven her to drink – like her character in tonight’s production.

Cast Profile

Christine Rye

Christine joined the cast of the play very late on – with only two weeks rehearsal to go. Fortunately, she is such a professional she can carry the part off easily. .

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Director’s Cut A view from director Heather Evans

Due to unforeseen circumstances the expected September play was cancelled, but in the best tradition of the theatre A show must go on – even if it is not THE show. But what we could we do with such a tight timescale? That’s when we came up with the idea of the radio play.

As actors in a radio play are voices not faces, it really didn’t matter as to the age group of the people involved, or if we needed one person to play more than one role – it would just add to visual impact. It is quite amusing to watch someone having a conversation with themselves, but if you just close your eyes you can imagine all the different people talking.

As always I have had loads of help from the cast and crew to get this show on the stage. In particular Chris for writing the play around the plays, Adrian for making the best black box set we have seen and Steve for all his usual technical wizardry, but a huge thank you to everyone involved, on stage and off, for pulling out all the stops and giving us a unique show. I hope you all enjoy it!

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The Holmes Service

By Chris Jarvis with some help from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Directed by Heather Evans

The action takes place in a radio studio on 3 consecutive weeks

Act 1

Scene 1: The Musgrave Ritual Scene 2: The Curse of the Dead Adventuress (Part 1)

Interval

Act 2

Scene 1: The Curse of the Dead Adventuress (Part 2) Scene 2: The Mystery of the Tolling Bell

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Cast

Monty de Ville Adrian Laing

Clive Urquhart Chris Jarvis

Archie Pangbourn Graham Shelton

Wendy Watson Jo Russell

Eleanor Payne Heather Evans

Edie Smith Jo Crawley

Jane Thomas Christine Rye

Crew

Lighting & Sound Design Stephen Hocking

Lighting Operation Lewis Sykes

Sound Operation Stephen Hocking

Stage Manager Kirsten Shelton

Set Design Adrian Laing

Set Construction Wheatsheaf Wednesdays

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The Foley Artist

Foley artists are so called after Jack Foley, one of the first practitioners of the art. A Foley artist adds sounds effects such as footsteps and environmental sounds to radio plays, films and, now-adays, video games.

Sound effects were used for two distinct purposes; moving the sto-ry along or setting a mood. The original Foley artists had no train-ing – they used whatever they could find to make their sound-effects, sometimes to great effect, others times not so convinc-ingly.

Even in the early days recorded sounds were used as well as man-ually produced ones. No matter how talented the Foley artist, it is often easier (and takes up less room) to play a tape of wind than to have a wind machine in the corner of the studio. Having said that, many good soundmen used their voices to imitate cats, dogs, hors-es and so forth. Footsteps would be produced by the artist walking on different surfaces, banging a piece of wood could be a gunshot and miniature doors would be opened, closed and locked.

Small changes to a standard sound can make a huge difference to a setting. The sounds of crockery and the chink of glasses could create a dining room, but the addition of chamber music leads the listener into a posh restaurant, where a jukebox would suggest a bar or café.

Simply produced sounds would be preferred to using recorded sounds as there was more control that way – it is easier to knock hesitantly than to slow down a tape or record. Other easily produced sounds include:

twisting cellophane (crackling fire) blowing through a straw into water (boiling water) rubbing strips of metal together (skating on ice) pulling a wet cork from any bottle and pricking a balloon

(opening champagne) squeezing folded sandpaper (breaking eggs)

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The Foley Artist

rattling used flash bulbs in a can of water (cocktail shaker) shaking length of inner tube, cut in inch-wide strips (wet dog

shaking himself) pulling a large can or bucket from tub of water (body falling

into water) twisting knob of combination padlock (Geiger counter or dial

of safe) plunging knife into cabbage or melon (body being stabbed) dropping metal washers (sound of coins) scratching rough paper with unbent paper clip (writing with

pen)

In the early days there were very few women Foley artists, but that does not mean that many women were not included in publicity pictures of sound effects personnel in action. These photos were "staged" by posing attractive secretaries and production assistants with assorted sound equipment, together with the actual sound men. This was often because a publicity shot of a pretty girl waving a sword around is more visually appealing than an aging actor speaking into a microphone!

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Letter from the Chairman

Tonight's show is a little different from our usual material, but all good theatres need to diversify their productions, stretch their actors... and indeed, develop their audiences.

Since I was very small, radio has been a constant background to family life. I often recall most weekends, gradually waking up, setting about breakfast with mum and dad, whilst listening to the BBC in the background. The wonder of radio is that it allows us to simply 'get on' with other things, whilst being entertained - not quite like watching the TV where you dare not move away to even boil the kettle without fear of missing a crucial scene!

No, for me, radio provides a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, listening to plays that can really allow your imagination a good 'run out.' So, when presented with the challenge of what show to put on this September, at rather short notice, the actors in tonight's performance, ably led by our director, Heather, saw this as an opportunity to try out something new.

For myself, and tonight's actors, the Round the Horne radio series has been of great inspiration to us, and perhaps one day when the performing rights are available, we might be able to produce that too. Tonight's show however, is a series of three plays based on that super sleuth, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Watson.

The three radio plays needed to be set into context. Heather, our director asked me to write a play that could link together the three radio shows. Hence I developed the story tonight about a group of actors in the 1940's who performed the radio plays on air. So you will see a typical radio studio, complete with sound effects, and our actors will be characters who might have worked there. The regulars, Clive, Wendy, Archie and Eleanor, managed by Jane, are to be joined by 'special guest star' Monty de Ville, who has made a name for himself in Hollywood.

We hope that you enjoy our performance, and for me, I have certainly enjoyed another opportunity to write for the Wheatsheaf and perform some of my own work. Many thanks to the cast, director, technical and stage crews for pulling together a unique show.

Chris Jarvis, Chairman

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Coming Soon...

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Music

How much of the music playing before the show do you recognize. All of the tunes are theme tunes to radio programmes

1. Arrangement of National Airs ..... Radio 4 UK Theme

2. Rhythm On The Rails ................. Morning Music

3. Marching Strings ........................ Top of the Form

4. A Quiet Stroll .............................. Farming

5. The Horse Guards, Whitehall ..... Down Your Way

6. Sailing By ................................... Radio 4 End

7. Lilliburlero ................................... BBC World Service Theme

8. Barwick Green ............................ The Archers

9. Calling all workers ...................... Workers' Playtime

10.By The Sleepy Lagoon .............. Desert Island Discs 11.Puffin' Billy ................................. Children's Favourites

12.Devil's Gallop ............................ Dick Barton--Special Agent 13.In Party Mood ............................ Housewives' Choice

The Wizard and the Magic Gloves

Now, how many shopping days is it till Christmas? Scared you? Well, its scaring us to think that we are already casting our pantomime for production in the New Year.

Last year’s pantomime was the first in recent years for the Wheatsheaf and, lets face it, what a success it was. The theatre was filled will giggling children, sweets, fizzy pop and giant rabbits...did I say giant rabbits? Yes...

Well, the author of Silly Billy and the Giant Rabbit, has returned and Joe Lawless brings us another pantomime, starting Saturday 26th January. With tickets at just £6 for adults and £3 for children, where else can you take a family of four, with drinks for the you and the kids, for less than £20? Better than your average theatre?

This years panto is called "The Wizard and the Magic Gloves" and will include all your Wheatsheaf favourites. We will be taking bookings in the run up to Christmas, but don't forget to tell your friends and family. We will be performing evenings, with additional weekend matinees, ideal for family trips.

So we'll see you there? Oh yes we will...