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David Porter » Entries tagged with "Fisher Theatre Bungay"

Jekyll & Hyde

Jekyll & Hyde and Nerve, two one act plays performed by Reverend Theatre Productions at the Bungay Fisher Theatre This review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 15 October 2016 Jekyll & Hyde, the much-loved classic gothic horror tale from the pen of Robert Louis Stevenson, has long been a rich source of dramatic ideas from the dark side of the human soul. In this contemporary take on madness and pressure, Reverend Theatre brought to life four characters (a surgeon, her new neighbour, her brother and his carer) experiencing the consequences of sexuality, claustrophobic space and the unbearable pain of one slowly dying from motor neurone disease. After Jekyll & Hyde the same performers presented another short play, Nerve, set in a flat with unusual characters – an edgy youngster, her pregnant friend, a … Read entire article »

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Slyghtly Hystorical

Slyghtly Hystorical presented by Charmed Life at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 28 September 2016 ‘Slyghtly Hystorical’ was the clever comedic, theatrical, fun nonsense staged by Charmed Life Productions to mark 10 years of Bungay’s reborn Fisher Theatre. It’s an achievement well celebrated in play that raised a host of historical people with connections to this ‘fine town of renown’ who left their footprints on Bungay. Tim Hall played David Fisher, the impresario out of his depth trying to stage ‘Hamlet’. Dawn Briggs was an earthy Boudicca, Josh Gould portrayed martyred King Edmund and a lofty Ethel Mann while Sarah Curtis was Eliza Bonhote and the Buttercross’s justice statue. Lawrie Hammond was a swashbuckling H Rider Haggard and painter Munnings, Mark Burridge the hilarious love-sick French Vicomte Chateaubriand with … Read entire article »

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Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Open Space)

Open Space Theatre in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 11 May 2015 The versatile Open Space Theatre company are touring Albee’s 1960s’ classic study of marriage, aspirations and personal pain levels in a production by David Green that is masterful, moving and memorable. Yves Green and Peter Sowerbutts are the well-matched, long married couple who niggle and goad each other with alcohol-fuelled vitriol. They sustain the rollercoasster of emotion superbly, ultimately revealing how their fantasies and games have fed them and how their sometimes mutual loathing is another side of love and need. Mick Davison and Emma Martin are the young married couple, their increasingly reluctant guests, who watch in horror as their hosts wield personal emotion scalpels before themselves being gradually … Read entire article »

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An Inspector Calls

Open Space Theatre at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 16 September 2013 JB Priestley’s masterfully crafted tale of lies, self-delusion and guilt is touring our region by the respected Open Space group. It’s a dance round suspicions and characters with things to hide, lives turned upside down, reputations destroyed and generational perspectives. Director David Green cleverly balances moods, tensions and undercurrents. Peter Sowerbutts plays the pompous head of the family with his business under threat; Yves Green his equally insufferable wife. Cathy Gill is their daughter, a young woman with a conscience, engaged to an unlikeable, shifty younger version of her father, played by Darren France. Warwick Manning portrays the hapless, ne’er-do-well younger son and Tim Hall presents the mysterious Inspector who mercilessly peels away their outer coats … Read entire article »

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From Russia

From Russia Open Space Theatre, Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press and East Anglian Daily Times, 1 December 2012 Ever-inventive Open Space are touring comic Chekhov gems and a poignant ‘what if’ study from two tragedies. High-energy romp, The Proposal, sees man (Grant Filshill) call on father (Alan Bolton) to ask for daughter’s hand (Emma Martin). A land dispute quickly degenerates into a delicious, insult-throwing barney. The Bear is a bad-tempered stranger (Stephen Picton) calling on a widow (Cathy Gill) to collect her late husband’s debt. His raging turns to instant infatuation. The old retainer (Patrick Quorn) and the attempted pistol duel are hilarious. The Evils of Tobacco is a monologue in the form of a lecture from a hen-pecked man (Alan Bolton) which is really about his wife and his … Read entire article »

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The Verdict

Bungay Theatre Group at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 23 November 2012 Queen of Crime Agatha Christie wrote Bungay Theatre Group’s latest venture as a play, not novel or story, because its compelling narrative translates well on stage. Set in a 1950s Bloomsbury flat, it’s a journey through personal tensions, despair and hope. It’s taut, clever writing, described by some as close to melodrama. It’s a who-dunnit without the who. We know that a spoilt student (lively Jessica Delf) over administers medicine to the wheelchair-bound, cantankerous wife (Janet Wright) of the weak professor (John Sauverin) she is infatuated with. It’s a thriller-mystery but more about characters and ageing, love and marriage, with side commentary on ‘foreigners’. Directed by Emily Delf and Stephen Went who both take roles, it carefully … Read entire article »

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Bouncers

MIG at Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 2nd November 2011 Hailing from the Midlands, MIG (Men in Glasses) Productions, a not-taking-themselves-too-seriously company, brought Bouncers to Bungay. It’s one of John Godber’s classics, and they did a remixed, updated version, with local towns referenced to bring it home. From the opening comic dance routine to the bitter-sweet end, pace never flagged, deftness of touch didn’t falter, laughs didn’t dry up. Most of the verbal gags came from the original version; such humour is timeless. The physicality was an added comic treat. The play’s social comment is still as barbed, perceptive and close to the mark as ever. The multiroling, including female roles, was sustained by Chris Pindar, Jon Williams, Martin Voyle and Andy Jones perfectly. Each cameo moment, from club, to … Read entire article »

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T’is Pity She’s A Whore

RoughCast Theatre at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 26 April 2010 T’is Pity She’s A Whore Forbidden love (incest), obsessive jealousy, teenage desire and problems endured by parents wrapped in gruesome revenge are the ingredients of the latest from RoughCast Theatre given two interesting innovations. Written about 1630, this is a post-Elizabethan/Jacobean classic, drawing heavily on Romeo and Juliet, Othello and other revenge tales. What RoughCast do is to make it relevant to a modern audience. The first big experiment is to to combine young actors from regional company The Keeper’s Daughters, with regular and older performers from RoughCast. The result is a realistic generational conflict. Directed and produced by Mark Finbow and Emma Martin, they take convincing parts themselves. Young players Ryan Hill and Alice Mottram bring style to … Read entire article »

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Private Lives

Open Space Theatre at The Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in Eastern Daily Press  9 November 2009 and East Anglian Daily Times 10 November 2009 Private Lives Open Space provide an invaluable service touring quality amateur drama around the rural areas, and their latest offering confirms their reputation as entertainers of the highest calibre. Noel Coward’s vintage period piece sparkles with repartee and one-liners in the Oscar Wilde tradition with all the 1930s’ wit and elegance. Many lines are deliciously acerbic, cruel and downright hilarious. The characters deliver them with panache – ‘I’m glad I’m not normal,” gets the response – “What an odd thing to be glad about!”. The unlikely premise is a once-married couple meeting accidentally on their respective honeymoons to new partners, while sharing neighbouring hotel rooms. These are people who can’t … Read entire article »

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Hedda Gabler

RoughCast Theatre at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 27 November 2006 Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen is a little out of fashion these days, what with the heavy Victorian morals and modern view, it is almost melodrama. Yet with the additional secrets, lies, scandals and hypocrisy, time is surely ripe for a fresh appraisal. RoughCast do just that with a sharp, well-costumed and plausible presentation. Now six years old, they formed to tour challenging plays in rural areas – bringing it to the newly-restored and magnificent little Fisher Theatre was an added bonus. David Green’s brisk direction of a strong cast brings the wordy (and, for its era, revolutionary) story to life in a way that strikes a chord with people of all ages today. Pistol crackshop Hedda Gabler is newly married, … Read entire article »

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