THE LYME REGIS COMMUNITY PLAYERS
(Lyme Regis Development Trust)
St. Kilda, Silver Street, Lyme Regis, DT7 3HR.
Telephone 01297 445072
The Community Players group was set up in 1999 specifically to work on a
millennium event which would involve anyone and everyone in Lyme Regis who
wanted to take part. The event was a new production of that much-loved
musical "Fiddler on the Roof". It was professionally directed by
Rose Wigmore, a Lyme Regis resident who had spent a lifetime in the
theatre. Those taking part ranged in age from 8 to 80+ (literally), and
"Fiddler" played to packed houses at the Marine Theatre every
night for a week in Milennium year.
Such was the response, particularly in the Press, that the Group had no
alternative but to mount another production in 2001. This was
"Oliver!" , and once again Press and public went wild. So it
would seem that the Community Players, having been set up to handle a
one-off event, had found a niche in this town. The group is unusual in
that it comes under the umbrella of the Lyme Regis Development Trust, a
registered charity. And any funds left after all unavoidable expenses have
been met are given to the Trust for their ground-breaking work with young
people. Most importantly, the Trust has set up a much-needed Youth Cafe in
the town, something for which the young people themselves had identified a
need.
Our emphasis, as the name implies, is very much on community. We hold open
auditions, and welcome people of all ages and experience, or none. This
year we are producing "The Match Girls"
by Bill "Compo" Owen. Like "Fiddler"
and "Oliver" it has a serious underlying theme - in this case, a
strike by cockney girls in the East End of London in 1880 against the
appalling conditions in the Bryant and May factory. Despite the serious
theme, it has wonderful music and dancing, and of course plenty of cockney
humour. The girls apart, other characters in this true story include Annie
Besant and George Bernard Shaw, and we will be performing nightly at the
Marine Theatre from 24th to 28th September.
If you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to get involved in
any way, you are welcome to contact the Press and Publicity Officer,
Margaret Rose, e-mails to margaretrose@lymeregis.com.
We really do welcome everyone who wants to be part of our community, even
for a short time.
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