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Forty one members attended our luncheon in January. Now that Richard Brown no longer owns the Delicatessen in Bishopsmead, he prepares our meals in the kitchen at the theatre. As he also remains behind to serve the meal, this is a great help to those of us who organise the luncheon. A real pro amongst us amateurs!.
Our speakers were Sue Barnard, the newly appointed General Manager at the Electric Theatre and her husband Geoff Lawson – Artistic Director of the Powerhouse Theatre Company. Sue began by telling us of their early days together. They met while performing in Catherine Cookson’s ‘The Fifteen Streets’ and then going on tour with the company. Sue continued acting until the arrival of their children thus retiring from the stage. Once the children were older, she returned to the world of the theatre, eventually joining the Electric Theatre. She became involved in the requests for grants for the Lottery Fund. She said that she was most impressed with the way the Nomad Theatre presented their case. Geoff has been working in the arts for the last 35
years as actor, writer, director and musician. His roots are in community theatre, having been a founder member of a well established theatre company in the North East. He decided to set up the Power House Theatre Company following a highly successful run of his play ‘Our War’ at the Electric Theatre in 2007. Geoff’s comments in the magazine ‘through the looking glass’ sum up his beliefs that the theatre can make a huge difference to our experience of the world, it can stimulate, excite, educate and literally change people’s lives. This is so in tune with Bill Pearson’s ‘Let Loose’ programme with our Play In A Week and the Workshops which he runs here at the Nomads.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th February, 2008. Our speaker will be Mac Bonar. His talk is entitled “Adventures in an Austin 7 – Lands End to John O’ Groats”. If any member cannot attend the luncheon, will they please telephone Mary Brooks by Sunday 17th February at the latest as, once meals are ordered, they have to be paid for. In March, we shall welcome John Dicker, asking the question “Who says retirement is boring”. |
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