Archive for August 2018
Round And Round The Garden
Round And Round The Garden
By Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Danny Sparkes
Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th October at 7.30pm
Tickets: adults £14, children/students £10 (adults £12 on the 8th)
This play is the third of the” Norman Trilogy”. The “Norman Conquests” occur during a single weekend in different parts of the same house and concern a group of related people. Each play is complete in itself and this one is set in the garden.
A common factor is Norman’s inadequate attempts to involve himself in turn with his sister-in-law, his brother-in-law’s wife and his own wife! It is a comedy which shows just what happens when misunderstandings occur and can be summarised by Norman’s final words… “I only wanted to make you happy”!
The cast
Jack And The Beanstalk
Jack And The Beanstalk.
Directed by Andrew Hamel-Cooke, Musical Director James Marr.
Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th December at 7:30, matinee on Saturday at 2:30.
Tickets: adults £16, children/students £10.
In the village of Ample Bottom, strange things are occurring… there’s a magic cow, magic beans and the villagers keep disappearing!
Jack, Sally, Widow Pott and Daisy the cow adventure up the beanstalk (yes, it’ll grow on stage before your very eyes!) to defeat the evil Giant Blubberguts and rescue Jill from Grotweasel’s clutches. But will Jack win his girl’s heart and the riches he so badly needs? Will good prevail over evil?
The Nomads present a traditional pantomime suitable for families, we recommend children attending are age 5+. As well as a fabulous adult cast including professionally trained actors, singers and dancers, we also have several youngsters on stage - some are from our youth group, Nomes Youth Theatre. Our ‘hidden gem’ theatre (winner of Essential Surrey’s “Best Amateur Theatre” 2019) has some free on-site parking (including Disabled spaces which can be reserved when booking) and more free parking is close-by - we also have a fully stocked bar serving a wide range of drinks, ice creams and snacks.
Booking in advance is advised, particularly for the matinee!
Fee, Fi, Fo Fum… join us for some festive fun!
Suitable for children aged 5+
Book online now - BOX OFFICE - or call 01483 284747.
- Jack - Millie Jane Franks
- Jill - Sasha Plaché DeVilliers
- Dame Pott - John Want
- Grotweasel - Adam Coburn
- Silly Sally - Ella Key
Plan your visit to Surrey Showcase
The venue
The Nomad Theatre is set behind Bishopsmead Parade at the southern end of Ockham Road South in East Horsley. The theatre building itself has plenty of indoor space which is accessible to all, including washroom facilities and wheelchair audience spaces.
Getting here
Driving - postcode for SatNavs: KT246RT
- From the M25/A3 southbound, take the B2039 (Ockham Road North) and follow the road for 3.8 miles through the village. Bishopsmead Parade is on your left.
- From the A3 travelling London-bound, take the B2215 exit to Ripley and turn right at the roundabout on to the A247 to Clandon. Turn left at the major crossroads on to the A246 Epsom Road towards Leatherhead and the left at The Duke of Wellington pub on to Ockham Road South after 3 miles.
- From Leatherhead take the A246 towards Guildford for 4 miles and turn right at The Duke of Wellington pub on to Ockham Road South.
Parking
We have limited spaces in our car park - please contact us to request loading access if you are a performer.
If you require a disabled parking space, parking vouchers must be booked along with your ticket or by contacting [email protected]
- Bishopsmead Parade - there are 20 spaces at the parade, but parking on a Saturday is limited to 1 hour before 6pm.
- St Martin’s Lane (use postcode KT24 6RH) - there are 30 free spaces here. Opposite the church, follow St Martin’s close round to the right and you can access the car park via Holmwood Close. There is a walkway through to the main road.
- De Vere Horsley Estate (use KT24 6DT) - our neighbour have kindly offered their overflow car park for the day. The entrance is next to the pedestrian crossing, behind residential property “Bishopsgate Lodge”. Please state you’re visiting The Nomad Theatre at the gate.
By rail
Horsley station is served by Southwestern Railway, Guildford - London Waterloo trains via Cobham or Leatherhead and by Southern Guildford - London Victoria trains. Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk to plan your journey.
You can walk from the station to the theatre in 20 minutes, the 479 bus runs through the village, or taxis are available locally.
By bus
Horsley is served by the following routes. See full map.
- 479 - Guildford Friary bus station to Epsom - see timetable
- 478 - Guildford Friary bus station to Woodbridge Tesco, Leatherhead - see timetable
Taxis
Bishopsgate Cars - 01483 286848 ([email protected]) are a friendly firm owned and run by local residents
Magnum Cars & Carriages - 01483 281111 are situated on Station Approach, Horsley
Silver Arrows - 01483 280050 are situated in St Martin’s House, opposite Bishopsmead Parade
Places to stay
There are two local hotels within walking distance of the theatre:
De Vere Horsley Estate (fr. £79 B&B, save up to 15% by signing up to the Applause scheme) - see website
Thatcher’s Hotel - see website
Want your local service listed? Contact [email protected] to get involved
Sid Dolbear completes the Surrey Showcase line-up
Our final act, completing our line-up is…
Sid Dolbear
Regular visitors to the theatre and members of both The Nomads and Bookham Light Operatic Society will recognise Sid from his numerous appearances in productions over the years. Well-known, and well-loved, Sid will be presenting a few poems and readings for us on Saturday 18th at Surrey Showcase!
Opera cabaret presented by Bronwen Harding
Bringing her amazing opera set to The Studio…
Bronwen Harding
Bronwen made her operatic title role debut as ‘Carmen’ in London with Secret Opera and also premièred as ‘Madre Germont’ in the company’s all female production of Verdi’s La traviata – “The Trousered Traviata” - with performances in London and Brighton. Recent opera roles include ‘Orlofsky’ in J.Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Opera Integra), ‘Lola’ in Cavalleria Rusticana‘ (Opera Passione), ‘Suzuki’ in Madama Butterfly (Hellenic Opera Co, Greece) and ‘Amore’ & ‘Valetto’ in L‘incoronazione di Poppea (Skull of Yorick Productions) and ‘Dorabella’ in Cosi fan tutti (Ensemble OrQuesta).
In 2017, Bronwen founded Rogue Opera to bring intimate opera productions to new spaces and audiences. The company’s first show, Bizet’s Carmen, premiered in May 2018 and will tour in Autumn/Winter. Bronwen is also a regular recitalist and performs for private and corporate events across the UK.
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
Charlotte Rowling represents Play In A Week on the Main Stage
We’re welcoming soloist…
Charlotte Rowling
Charlotte is an alumna of the Orpheus Centre, established by Sir Richard Stilgoe twenty years ago in Godstone, Surrey. She has been singing, under the guidance of a professional tutor and mentor, for nearly twenty years and has sung at St John’s, Smith Square, Cadogan Hall and the Royal Opera House. She sings regularly in outreach performances for the Orpheus Centre, demonstrating, in the best way she can, what the Centre can offer young people who face more than their fair share of challenges in life.
She is an enthusiastic member of an arts group called Freewheelers where she contributes to music, singing and drama workshops, and recently performed in their production of Amandla, telling the story of Nelson Mandela. Charlotte has recorded several CDs and is learning the violin. She has established her own stained-glass project and, to let off steam, is now a member of Meridian Archery Club. Never a dull moment!
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
Duo Simon & Nika on Bob’s Busker Spot
Adding a duo to our busker line-up…
Simon & Nika
Nika and Simon have been performing together since the beginning of 2018as an acoustic duo and as part of a bigger band. They play many different styles from Blues to Gospel to Rock. At the Surrey Showcase event they will perform some Jazz standards; a particular favourite!
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
Graham Russ will be on Bob’s Busker Spot
Adding some guitar ballads to Bob’s Busker Spot…
Graham Russ
Graham is a Surrey based singer-songwriter penning ballads, thinkers & anthems for the head and the heart.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
Up on our Bob’s Busker Spot - James Gourlay
Joining the buskers…
James Gourlay
Born and raised in Guildford, I am a 21 year old multi instrumentalist. Whilst still a novice at live performances, I have been playing instruments for the past 11 years ranging from Guitar, Piano and Drums. I take influences from bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Green Day. My claim to fame came back in 2013 at George Abbot School when my band won the battle of the band competition during charity week!
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
In The Studio - Marc Brightside
On The Studio stage…
Marc Brightside
Marc Brightside is an author of poetry and realist fiction for adults, hailing from South London. Marc first discovered poetry under the tuition of Julian Stannard and has since been been published in various outlets across the UK, both online and in print. His poem ‘Eleven Years of May’ was a top ten finalist in the National Poetry Competition and his debut collection, Keep it in the Family, was released by Dempsey & Windle Publishing in 2017.
Marc is currently working on a second poetry collection and his first full-length novel, and can be found performing in-and-around Central London. Fans of barbed, bitter, cynical musings on life may find something to enjoy in these poems.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
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Trisha Broomfield, poet, joins Surrey Showcase
Welcoming our first female poet to The Studio stage…
Trisha Broomfield
Trisha pulls inspiration from childhood memories whether real or imagined. Her poems combine light humour with a twist of perception and the occasional dash of darkness.
Her second collection, Husbands for Breakfast has recently been published by Dempsey and Windle.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
Poet, Ray Pool in The Studio
Hailing from Farnham and joining The Studio stage…
Ray Pool
Ray is a published poet from Farnham, regularly reading at open mic poetry events in London and in the Home Counties and tends to favour characterisations using regional accents for poems of an ironic nature whilst also being fond of more serious material too. Ray currently has two pamphlets to his credit, and Dempsey & Windle have published two collections by Ray who has at various times in a varied life been a musician working on the BBC and on cruise ships, a skilled furniture restorer, a bird - watcher, an opportunistic photographer, and a keen railway enthusiast. He is a collector of quaint words, dialects, regional accents, other people’s conversations, tin whistles, and other shiny things, which may go some way to explain the eclectic nature of his poems. His stories, dryly and sometimes absurdly humorous, are always entertaining and sometimes moving.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
Spoken word from Ian McLachlan
Adding to our spoken word performers in The Studio…
Ian McLachlan
Ian McLachlan is a regular performer on London’s spoken word scene. His poems have been published in numerous magazines and journals including Envoi, Magma, Poetry Salzburg Review, and The Rialto. His spoof illustrated poetry pamphlet Confronting the Danger of Art, which he co-produced with Phil Cooper, is available from Sidekick Books. He tweets and instagrams @ianjmclachlan
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
Buy tickets here! TICKETS
Review - Love Me Slender (by Polly)
Love Me Slender
By Vanessa Books
10-14 July 2018
Directed by Andrew Hamel-Cooke
Please note: this review is an abridged version to allow for brevity only.
“The piece, for a female only cast and written by a woman, is built around a slimming club which meets regularly in the back room or vestry of a church. We are introduced to the group, three of whom are longstanding “achievers” and three “newbies”, one at a time. This was a clever device which gave us a clear view of each character. The group was led by the iron-fisted, ruthless, brutal and entirely self-serving Siobhan.
Siobhan, played by Moyra Brookes, made a powerful first entry. She had a huge voice which seemed to sit around the falsetto range much of the time, was well projected and clearly articulated. The performance was well sustained and fluent, but perhaps a bit more variety in vocal power and pace would have made for a more impressive characterisation. Her tour de force was the penultimate scene where the power haircut, the figure-hugging dress, and harsh make-up were abandoned. We met here, an almost contrite figure who, to some degree, acknowledged the
harm she had done to those whom she purported to want to help. This was a HUGE role and Moyra is to be congratulated on her performance.
The first new member we met was Claudette (Cheryl Chamberlain). She wanted to be slim so that she could have another stab at finding a partner. She wanted, above all else, for her fatherless daughter to find her acceptable enough to spend some time with. This was a sound performance, well timed and communicated. She had a very expressive face and used her space well.
Next on the scene was Rosie (Laura Spalding). Rosie was Siobhan’s faithful helper. She was treated appallingly and was made to feel foolish about being in love with Laurence. In a cruel attempt to put Rosie off, Laurence was made out to be an “undesirable”. We later discovered that
Siobhan herself had been creating false information about him. This was a well placed and convincing performance and she caught our sympathy especially when she described that Laurence had brushed some ice-cream from her face. There was tremendous tenderness about this moment. Losing those last extra pounds, alas, had not brought her the joy of marriage she so desperately wanted.
Another of Siobhan’s helpers was Kelly, (Emily Ingold). She probably had fewer lines to speak than any others, but her body language and almost shuffling movement around the stage caught one’s attention, curiosity, and sympathy. There was something very wrong with her, but the group leader, who prided herself of understanding and having the best interests of her “girls” at heart, failed to spot or begin to understand, the problem. Kelly becomes the unexpected focus of the darkest moment of the play. Her next appearance was of a slightly more “together” person. She achieved the effect very well with few lines and not that much stage time.
Lucinda (Sarah Gage) was an already willowy, new class member with ambition…..ambition that she felt she could achieve by losing enough to slip through the gap left by two desks placed deliberately by her boss to be the measure of a girls’ most desirable behind! Her very high heels
and her draping of herself around the stage conveyed her extreme awareness, as she saw it, of the power of her body over the weakness of her gross but powerful boss. Her extreme shoes underlined her extreme femininity. Although her speech was clear and lines delivered without
hesitation, she might have created an even better impression by using a little more vocal variation and facial expression, but a good performance which presented a clear characterisation.
Celia (Susan Monteregge) was definitely the ‘hockey-sticks” character. She was bold, confident and had a very clear delivery. She made the most of her character from the very first moment. She seemed an unlikely character to go to a Slim for Life class, but we discovered later that the
reason was not so that she could go hiking with a friend. There was another quite unexpected reason.
Jean (Nikky Kirkup) was Siobhan”s great success. She was at target! What greater achievement could there be? Far from being free of the Slimming Club, she was persuaded to keep going and finding the money. Despite achieving all five of Siobhan’s tenets of successful slimming, she still lacks the confidence to be her own person. Finally, it was the suffocating worry about money matters and the decision, to be honest with her husband despite Siobhan’s advice, which finally saved her from disaster.
The fourth scene, immediately after the interval, was a very impressive if long scene. The mood changed from the frenetic, hectoring of the previous three scenes. It was a kind of denouement and was basically a huge monologue by Siobhan. The attention of the other actors as she spoke was hugely impressive, a real tribute to the speaker and the listeners.
This was a very difficult piece. The playwright seemed to want to say everything about everything, in one go. The underlying themes were myriad, including an unhealthy bitterness about men, greed, honesty and everything in between but the sensitive direction by Andrew Hamel-Cooke gave them all a voice. It was a huge undertaking for the author, actors, and director. It was very well done and a courageous production.
As always, the set, lighting, sound and costuming were highly professional and the wonderful team made for a very polished presentation.”
Polly.
Youthful talents, Daisy & Zaya on the main stage
Not new to the Nomads stage, the youthful talents of…
Daisy and Zaya
Daisy (aged 12) has been dancing since the tender age of 2 after being allowed to join in her big sister’s ballet class. Since then Daisy has continued with her ballet including pointe work but also studies modern, contemporary, tap and street dance and also drama and musical theatre. Daisy loves performing and its her biggest goal in life is to perform in musicals and dance professionally. She does dance competitions, has performed in many shows and displays with her dance school and also with her school in various choirs and solo singing performances. Daisy has appeared in several shows with the Nomad Theatre and was thrilled to appear as part of the senior chorus in 2017 with Enchanted Entertainment’s panto at Dorking Halls. She is hoping to be successful again this year but in the meantime has been lucky enough to be chosen to be in a British Theatre Academy production of Annie.
Zaya is 14 and loves the performing arts. She has been dancing since she was 3 and has performed in lots of dance festivals and shows. When she was 10 she sang at the Surrey’s Got Talent competition and came first in the junior school section. She is studying GCSE Dance and Drama and is involved with many concerts at school, including a 4 day school choir tour of New York where they performed in Central Park and other locations.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
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- Zaya
- Daisy
Singer songwriter - D’Artagnan on the busker stage
Joining the line up for Bob’s Busker spot…
D’Artagnan Arbuah
Local singer/songwriter D’Artagnan will be performing a set of his own materials including his new single - Crush Hour - which is currently getting a lot of airplay across the country.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
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“Con-text” by Daniel Shepherd - main stage event
Nomad member Daniel Shepherd presents a short play “Con-text” at Surrey Showcase…
Con-text
Daniel Shepherd is a budding playwright from Effingham (“a town renowned for being unremarkable” Daniel writes!). This will be Daniel’s second show performed and he is incredibly excited to put it in front of an audience.
The play, Con-text, is an exploration of the duality of dating in a modern world: that of a digital and real world interaction. There will be 3 lives, 3 lies and only one conclusion.
A familiar face on The Nomads stage, you may have seen some of Daniel’s performances - as King Rat in Dick Whittington, Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night and Simon in Hayfever to name but a few!
The cast
- Roland Eve as Pete
- Sarah Roberts as Kelly
- Tilly Winford as Deanne
- Alannah as Deanne’s digital persona
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our social media feeds for announcements of new artists…
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