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Next production
Grimm Tales, 20th March, 15:00
This is a Young Performers Theatre
production.
The play, written by local playwright Hoffi Munt, is a compilation
of Grimm's fairy tales including Little Red Riding Hood,
The Frog Prince, Rapunzel and
Cinderella told by the brothers Grimm to a princess
who won't go to sleep…
The Young Performers Theatre is open to children aged 6 to 8 years
who come from the community of Hungerford and surrounding Towns and
Villages.
Where
The new conference theatre at Herongate Leisure Centre, Charnham Park.
Tickets
Tickets from Crown Needlework, 115 High Street, Hungerford
Tel: 01488 684011 - Credit and debit cards accepted.
Last production
The 2010 Hungerford Town Show
Carousel, 17th to 20th February 2010
From the magical evocation of the carousel in the overture to the
majestic and moving strains of the immortal You'll Never Walk
Alone, this giant of the musical stage remains timeless and
starbright. The poignant story of the faithful Julie and her brutish
husband Billy is one of the most powerful books of the musical
theatre and perfectly matches its extraordinary score. Revived by
the Royal National Theatre in 1996 to immense critical acclaim.
Famous songs include Mister Snow, If I Loved You,
June Is Bustin' Out All Over and When The Children Are
Asleep.
Where
John O’ Gaunt Community & Technology College, Hungerford.
Review of Carousel
17th to 20th February 2010.
Review from the Newbury Weekly News.
Swings and roundabouts in a colourful CarouselThe Community of Hungerford Theatre Company: Carousel, at John O' Gaunt Community School, from Wednesday, February 17 to Saturday, February 20 The story of fairground barker Billy Bigelow and sweet Julie Jordan is popular with amateur companies giving opportunities for colourful costumes and singing well-loved tunes. In this 30th public show directed by David Clayton, TCHTC continued the tradition of encouraging youngsters. They deserve considerable praise for this and for the immense amount of work which goes into their productions. The orchestra, conducted by John Miles, soon got into its stride and it is a compliment that the music became so well integrated that it was unnoticed as the first dramatic freeze broke and a myriad small stories were enacted on stage. This Carousel held a mixture of good and less good, particularly, in the latter case, the loud noise of scenery being moved backstage after the opening number thus completely drowning the on-stage dialogue. It was not the only occasion when such noise impinged. Julie Gower (Julie Jordan) whose strong voice effortlessly reached the high notes demanded of her, acted well and looked good as Billy's hard-done-by sweetheart. I'm sure no one is more aware than Rob Talbot, her cold-hearted lover, that the musical range required for some of Billy's songs was outside his comfort zone. Perhaps it was the resulting tension which affected his acting initially, but he redeemed himself in the final scenes with his wife and daughter and these were acted with conviction and pathos. Outstanding for singing and acting were Helen Bonner as Aunt Nettie and Paul Hyde as Enoch Snow, while the disciplined dancers were a continuing joy. Among them, Becky Home playing Billy's daughter Louise, made the most of her superbly expressive solo dance - a star of the future. Karen Ashby carried off her role as Julie's friend Carrie well with strong accurate singing and Steve Home, a stylishly evil Craigin, led the men in A Whaling We Will Go with vigour. Given the quantity of performers, it was surprising that the volume was muted - except in the enjoyable Clambake (when those little girls lined up did indeed look 'fittin' for an angel choir). Costumes were colourful, faces animated, nevertheless, in spite of all that work, this production never quite took off for me - even though I found myself wiping away a tear in that final moving scene. CAROLINE FRANKLIN |
Previous Productions
A Cream Cracker Under the Settee, A Dog's Life,
Still Waters, 20th to 25th July 2009, in HADCAF
Robin Hood and Friends, 27th June 2009
The Love Nest, 28th to 30th May 2009
The Fate of King Minos, 28th March 2009
The King and I, 18th to 21st February 2009. See the review in
the Archive.
Down at the Old Bull & Bush, 7th to 8th July 2008
Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, 5th July 2008
Love Begins at Fifty, 6th to 7th June 2008. See the
review in the Archive.
Blitz!, 20th to 23rd February 2008. See the review
in the Archive.
Gone With The Books, 21st to 22nd September 2007. See the
review in the Archive.
Romeo and Juliet, 7th July 2007 - a
Hungerford Children’s Theatre
production
Two Short Socks, 6th July 2007 - a
Hungerford Youth Theatre production
Hello Dolly, 14th to 17th February 2007. See the review in the
Archive.
Flower Drum Song, 15th to 18th February 2006. See the review in the
Archive.
Scheherazade, Tales of Arabian Nights, 8th July 2006
Anon, 30th June 2006, at HADCAF. See the review in the
Archive.
The Gut Girls, 6th to 7th June 2005
Annie Get Your Gun, 16th to 19th February 2005. See the review in the
Archive.
The Piper, Easter 2005 - a Hungerford Young Performers
production