COMIC POTENTIAL by Alan Ayckbourn

 

30th April - 3rd May 2008, Sheffield University Drama Studio

This show raised £3,049  for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice!

 

 

PICTURE GALLERY

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FROM THE PROGRAMME

 

PRODUCTION NOTES

I greatly enjoyed the 1999 West End London première of Comic Potential and have wanted to direct it ever since. Until now, casting had proved problematic but our recent collaboration with Next Best Thing Productions and then a further influx of new members has given us a  great cast and crew who've worked hard to give you an entertaining evening, and to raise funds for Bluebell Wood.

The play operates on various levels and is stuffed with many themes. Ayckbourn said “It's about what makes us human, the relationship between laughter and love. It's a romance. It's a latter-day Pygmalion.” “I think there are two things that separate us from the animals - the ability to fall in love and a sense of humour, and it's no coincidence that the two are so closely linked. Look at those lonely-hearts ads - they all demand GSOH - good sense of humour. They think they could love someone as long as they could make them laugh....”

But there are other themes too – female empowerment, declining careers and TV soaps being the most obvious.

Although there are 21 characters in the play, Ayckbourn actually wrote it for 10 actors as the only full-ensemble piece in the 1998 Stephen Joseph 10 by 10 season – 10 actors with a repertoire of 10 plays. We have taken the opportunity to use 14 actors, allowing Judy Colby, our chairman and wardrobe expert for many years, to take her first speaking role - and quite an appropriate one it is too. It's also nice to see Becca Turner, our Stage Manager many times, emerging from the wings for a few minutes. And although Sam Holland has acted impressively on this stage before, he has only worked backstage with Midland Players before now.

We also welcome some new faces to Midland Players. Emma Kenny-Levick has had us  all in stitches  with her great range of TV characters, and Andy Hibbert has really saved the day for us by stepping in with 7 weeks to go when the original Adam couldn't continue. Catherine Newsome also took over her roles at a  late stage, and Margaret Stone has brought a wealth of experience with her.

 

The rest of the cast and crew can all be regarded as regulars fravourites and have been as rewarding to work with as usual. I'm very grateful to the whole team, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the show.    Phil George

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan Ayckbourn was born in London in 1939 and has worked in theatre all his life. Before establishing himself as a writer and director, Alan worked in roles as various as stage manager, sound technician, lighting technician, scene painter, prop maker and actor. He always claims that most of these talents he developed with the help of Stephen Joseph, his mentor and founder of the Theatre in Scarborough who first encouraged him to write. One of Alan’s greatest achievements has been the establishment of a permanent home for the company of which he has been artistic director since 1972 – the Stephen Joseph Theatre. This splendid two-auditoria arts complex opened in 1996.

Probably one of the nation’s most performed living playwrights, Alan Ayckbourn has written 71 plays, almost all receiving their first performance in Scarborough. Among his successes are plays such as: How The Other Half Loves, Absurd Person Singular, The Norman Conquests, Bedroom Farce, Just Between Ourselves, A Chorus of Disapproval, Woman in Mind, A Small Family Business and Comic Potential. More than 25 have been produced in the West End or at the National Theatre since his first hit, Relatively Speaking, opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 1967. His plays have been translated into 35 languages, have won numerous national and international awards and are performed on stage and television throughout the world. They have been filmed in the US.

The holder of a number of honorary degrees, he is also the recipient of a Montblanc de la Culture Award for Europe and a Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence. A Fellow of the RSA, he was appointed a CBE in 1987 and in 1997, was knighted for services to the theatre.

 

This biography supplied by Alan Ayckbourn's official website: www.alanayckbourn.net.

Sir Alan will direct the world premier of his 71st full length play, Life and Beth, at the Stephen Joseph theatre in Scarborough this summer (2008), alongside revivals of his earlier plays Haunting Julia and Snake in the Grass. He will then retire as Artistic Director.

 

ABOUT THE CHARITY

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice is establishing an excellent reputation, currently working with children with life limiting and terminal conditions in their own homes.  With just over 100 referrals to date, they are currently supporting more than 80 children and their families through planned weekly support, with the remaining children in the referral process.  A 3 hour “gift of time” from Bluebell Wood each week allows families to spend this time as they wish: taking the siblings out for a treat; going to a parents evening; playing with their ill child whilst the carers play with the siblings; even taking the dog for a walk in the country, plus many more opportunities.

During emergencies (such as any member of the family being admitted to hospital, or following a hospital stay for the child) this number of hours will increase to give optimum support for the family.  During end of life care Bluebell Wood will work in partnership with other agencies to give 24-hour nursing care in the home. Between them the agencies involved will take responsibility to administer pain relief and symptom control drugs, plus therapy including play, music, art etc to enable the child to stay at home rather than being admitted to hospital.  Bluebell Wood has already supported 11 children through end of life care, and are currently offering bereavement support to their families.

 

Once fully open, up to 200 children will receive support from Bluebell Wood each year through the weekly care in their own homes, plus planned periods of respite care in the hospice. On average 2 weeks will be offered each year, where the whole family will be welcome at the hospice to be looked after and supported.  

 

It will cost ￡2.4 million every year to keep Bluebell Wood open, and with less than 4% coming from the government it is only thanks to the general public that we will be able to offer this service.  Bluebell Wood would like to thank the Midland Players for staging this show, and to those  who supported it.   Helen Mower, Bluebell Wood

 

The show raised £1,549 for the charity directly from ticket sales and HSBC Bank plc matched £1,500 making a total of £3,049.

 

 

 

The Flyer  

Midland Players Amateur Dramatic Society, Sheffield, UK

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THE FLYER