Hurst Players' perform pro panto despite restrictions

By Anne Hopper

A direct quotation from a member of Hurstpierpoint Players who’s had some years of experience in traditional pantomime and appeared in many of the company’s more ‘normal’ [whatever that is now!] productions. Robin Hood, directed by Sam Nixon and assisted by Annette Squire, was licensed for presentation on You Tube via our website for fourteen performances from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. The Company was gambling with an unknown variation on a familiar theme despite “a worldwide pandemic, rehearsing on Zoom and recording songs by singing into your ’phone alone in the kitchen!” My source for those comments is Jan Bell who’s been in around 40 shows for the Players in the past 31 years and wasn’t expecting to be able easily to cope with playing one of Robin’s Merry Men, ‘Billinda’ [Bill for short] a character disguised as a man but really a girl in love with Little John and maintaining the Panto tradition of role reversal.

In her post-production report Jan goes on to say, “I would be happy to film a show again – the cast had great fun and if you have a good, well-organised director and production team as good as we did then the filming process should be pretty smooth”. But yes, it was a steep learning curve for all of us and we’ve found the experience very rewarding – knowledge which will no doubt come in useful as we consider whether or not to stay ‘virtual’ for our first production of 2021 now under consideration. We have also been encouraged by positive comments sent to our website: “Have just watched the Panto – great fun – lots of laughs, good singing and clearly a lot of effort put into this virtual production. Now you can all have a rest as …it’s behind you! [sorry, you started it].!” Jason. “Just to say how much we admired the performance and especially the initiative you all showed in the most difficult of circumstances.” Patrick and Mary.

Viewers didn’t have to pay to see the Panto and we’ve been impressed at how so many people took advantage of the opportunity to watch us and to give a donation to help with production expenses. Robin Hood is no longer online but the opportunity to help with expenses still is, and it’s possible to go to the Players website: hurstplayers.org.uk where you’ll find details of PayPal and credit card donating.

It’s so dispiriting to see our unique theatre, so recently refurbished, now standing unused due to the current lockdown. Working online has obviously inspired the new members who’ve joined since the Panto – a warm welcome to you all. We now hope that it won’t be too long before we can stop talking about the next season on Zoom and get down to rehearsing the first production in 2021. Online if necessary but preferably on stage at the freshly minted Players Theatre, 147 High Street. Watch this space!

Austyn swaps St Lawrence for Rock!

By Mike Thatcher

Austyn Emmanuelle, a Year 6 pupil at St Lawrence School, is currently starring as Billy in the West End production of School of Rock, alongside former Hear’Say member Noel Sullivan.

Already a seasoned performer, Austyn began street dance at BPM Dance Academy and performed in his first show when he was aged five. In December 2018 he performed in Jack at the Hilton Metropole in Brighton but the jump to West End stage is a huge achievement.

“He went for a couple of acting castings for TV and wasn’t successful,” said his mother Sarah. “School
of Rock was the first musical he went for, and he got through the various stages of the audition and got offered a six month contract!”

Austyn has been dancing locally with BPM Dance Academy from a young age. Luke and Kat from BPM first met him when he used to drop his older brother off at his dance classes. Even though he wasn’t old enough he would stand in the doorway and try to join in as much as he could. “After just a few classes,” they said, “we knew that there was something special about Austyn; he was always so eager to learn everything and would smile throughout class from start to finish. An extremely hard worker in class, he always took every bit of feedback we gave him and worked on it to perfect his moves.”
St Lawrence School is extremely supportive and provides him with extra work to take to the theatre for when he’s on standby. “Other than that,” continues Sarah, “he goes to school, gets changed, heads to London, performs in a show or is on standby and gets back home at midnight and then up for school again the next day!”

Austyn hopes this is just the start for him. “I’m really enjoying being in a West End show. I love singing, dancing and acting, and I hope I can go further into more musicals after this.” And it seems Dave and Sarah would not disagree: “We are so proud of Austyn for his hard working character, determination and his outgoing nature. Seeing him be able to thrive in something he loves is a joy to us.”

School of Rock is at the Gillian Lynne Theatre and is booking until January 2020.

Full article printed in the November issue of Hurst Life.

Shows must go on at the Players Theatre, Hurstpierpoint

Productions in the Players Theatre on the High Street will continue during the summer as it is proposed that the renovations will now take place in the autumn. It is hoped that the initial work will concentrate on new seating and heating system, making it an even more welcoming place to watch plays, productions and films.

The next production is Rope, by former Hassocks resident Patrick Hamilton, which is being presented by the Players Theatre 2nd-6th April. It’s a mysterious play, a why - rather than who – dunnit! The audience knows from the onset who is responsible for the gruesome murder. The contrasting collection of guests are assembled to enjoy a macabre supper party at the mercy of their hosts’ flawed personalities. Not a play for the kiddies!

Jo Kearns, the play’s director, explained: “Whilst I was suffering from serious illness a couple of years ago, the nurses encouraged me to plan for future events, and to place on a wish list ideas that had previously only been a figment of imagination. As I was keen to direct a play, ‘Rope’ became my directorial debut, which so far has been a challenging but highly enjoyable experience.”

The Regina Monologues comes to Hurstpierpoint

Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived. There’s more to this little phrase than meets the eye as Hurstpierpoint Players’ next production, The Regina Monologues by Rebecca Russell and Jenny Wafer, proves!

The writers transplant the stories of the six wives of Henry VIII into the 21st century and by doing so show that their lives are not that far removed from those of modern women. Cleverly constructed, this is not a series of six monologues spoken one after the other.

Each wife takes a turn to reveal another bit of their story, which serves to hold the audience’s interest as all the tales reach their climax at once.

The Regina Monologues is both extremely funny and poignant, changing in the space of seconds, done with as much skill as Alan Bennett shows in his ability to find humour in the minutiae of life as well as in the big relationships! Coincidentally the show is accompanied by some of Bennett’s Talking Heads plays: Hand of God, Miss Fozzard finds her Feet and Soldiering On. At The Players Theatre, High Street, Hurstpierpoint from 28th March until 1st April, starting at 8pm.

Tickets are £10 Tuesday and Wednesday and £11 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They can be purchased from Richwards, 133 High Street, call 01273 834506, or buy online with a 65p booking fee per transaction (not per ticket) and can be posted to you for an extra £1 per transaction. Visit www.hurstplayers.org.uk for details.

Unfortunately Hurst Players are not able to offer price concessions for this production.