Friday 27 November 2015

The Apollo Theatre is serving up a fiendish family fantasy instead of a panto for Christmas this year.

Its next production is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's famous children's story 'The Witches', in which a boy and his grandmother manage to foil the Grand High Witch's evil plot to rid the earth of all children... but not before the boy gets turned into a mouse!  The production has been billed as 'top drawer family entertainment' and 'a glorious journey of fiendish fantasy'.

The Apollo has lined up a cast representing all ages, including members of the theatre's Apollo Juniors.

The show is directed by husband and wife team Amy and Dan Burns.

Amy said: "We have loved directing The Witches! It is a fabulous production and has been a real team effort, with amazing costumes, and a clever stage set that I won't say too much about ..."

'The Witches' is on December 4 and 5 (a Saturday matinee replacing the evening performance), and from December 8 to 12.

More details at www.apollo-theatre.org.uk



Picture shows:  Amy Burns (bottom right) directing Chrissie Blow as the Grand High Witch (front centre) with other members of the cast in a scene from 'The Witches'.


Thursday 26 November 2015

The Witches: a Perfect Pre-Christmas Show!


Come and see our next production, from Saturday 4th December, with a matinee on Sunday 5th; then Tuesday to Saturday 8th-12th December. A perfect pre-Christmas show.

Here's what one of the cast members has to say about it:

The Witches is about this boy and his grand mamma. Most of the action takes place when they travel to a Hotel called The Hotel Magnificent and encounter some women who aren't who they seem. It's a great story and good for all ages as it's funny and not rude.

Featuring Dave Talbot as The Doorman.

Here's a rehearsal shot of Dave with Amy, the director.


Here's Carole Crow as Grandmother and Jamie Mallon as The Boy:


Tickets on sale here: http://www.apollo-theatre.org.uk/the-witches/

Tuesday 22 September 2015

The Kitchen Sink

This is a very good place to come from. Cos it’s knackered and funny and it’s falling in the sea… But it’s not a good place to end up

The Kitchen Sink is set in a run down seaside town, following a family through a year. Martin’s milk float has seen better days – particularly the bits strewn over the kitchen floor. His wife Kath is concerned about him, about the state of her kitchen sink – and with their children: Billy aspires to enter art college, but his Dolly Parton portrait could let him down, while Sophie dreams of training as a ju-jitsu teacher - if she can keep her temper under control, and deal with the attentions of a young plumber who is himself caring for his ailing granny.

There is poignancy and pain, but through it all runs a deep vein of black comedy: the play is by turns hilarious and very touching; witty and warm.

The Telegraph’s review of it west end debut judged it: “one of the best new plays I have seen anywhere this year, and I cannot recommend it too highly.”

Neither can we!


The Kitchen Sink is on 16-17 and 20-14 October: tickets and further details are available on our website.

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Review - Ladies in Retirement

Ladies in Retirement got off to a cracking start last Friday evening - not only did the first night audience almost fill the theatre but their reactions showed that the choice of play, the casting and the acting were highly appreciated.

I cannot have been the only one who secretly thought for several scenes that the costume department were not quite up to their usual high standards when choosing a wig for Leonora - it is brash, red and, well, not quite convincing. But as we discover during the course of the play, not only is this intentional, but it gives us another hint as to the character, played with great aplomb by Maggie Cardew.

For Leonora Fiske is an ex-good time girl, now living in retirement but still addicted to the good things in life, whether the newest music to play on her beloved piano, continually picking at the sweeties or guzzling champagne. Or indeed being visited by a handsome young man, as she is.

That handsome young man however is of the type with whom Leonora is very familiar - an appreciator of a pretty face and easy money, and capable of letting both land him in trouble. Adam Richardson is convincingly flirtatious and dodgy as Albert, the nephew of Leonora's live in companion, Ellen Creed.

But it is Ellen's other relatives who her mistress objects to, for when two other Miss Creeds come to visit, they outstay their welcome. Well, would you approve a house guest scattering driftwood and seaweed all over your sitting room carpet and filling your home with seashells and dead birds?

Di Evans at times is in danger of stealing the show as Miss Emily, the resentful, eccentric collector of such items, while Cynara Crump, as the more overtly vulnerable Miss Louisa with her treasured telescope, all she has left of a dead suitor, adds her own piquantly amusing observations.

With her mistress demanding the sisters are sent packing, and her responsibilities to them weighing heavily, what will Ellen do?

Glenys Williams perfectly portrays Ellen's dilemma, and the scene in which she is, as she says, 'made to feel her position very much' is a pivotal art of the play.

Add to this the subplot of Albert trying to seduce lady's maid Lucy, played with convincing innocence by Carole Simpson, and a nosy but kind-hearted nun, played by Suzie Chilton, and the mystery of what has happened to Miss Leonora Fiske unfolds with black comedy underpinning the thrilling denouement.

Ladies in Retirement is showing at the Apollo Theatre every evening until Saturday 5 September - don't miss it!

Tuesday 18 August 2015

An exercise in slowly accumulating terror.....

The Apollo Theatre's next production is a creepy crime drama based on a real murder.

'Ladies in Retirement' is one of the most popular productions in amateur theatre, and for good reason: it combines mirth and mystery, and mixes it with an undercurrent of genuine horror.

It was first performed at the Apollo in 1981, and is now revived under the direction of Eve Fradgley, whose mother Maggie Cardew is the Theatre's artistic director for the season, and is assisting Eve in directing the play, as well as playing the part of Leonora Fiske.

The play is based on a murder that was committed in 1886, and inspired an American 1941 film noir of the same name.

One of the features of the play is the way it slowly ramps up the tension - or, as the New York Times put it, 'it's an exercise in slowly accumulating terror'.

Set in a dark, lonely house in the marshes of the Thames estuary, the cast includes Glenys Lloyd Williams, Di Evans, Cynara Crump, Adam Richardson, Suzie Chilton and Carol Simpson.

'Ladies in Retirement' runs from August 28 to 29, and September 1 to 5, marking the start of the Apollo's new season.


Tickets can be booked online at www.apollo-theatre.org.uk, and full details of all the plays in the new season can be viewed there, too.

 Maggie Cardew in discussion with her daughter, the director, Eve Fradgley.


And a flashback to 1981 with Mary Baker and Barbara Turner in the Apollo production of 'Ladies in Retirement' that year.

Monday 10 August 2015

Ladies In Retirement

Ladies in Retirement, our next production, is a play performed on Broadway in 1940 and made into a film a year later. The film was described as ‘an exercise in slowly accumulating terror with all the psychological trappings of a Victorian thriller’.

Set in Victorian times, the play concerns Ellen Creed, a proud spinster fallen on hard times, housekeeper/companion to wealthy, retired chorus girl Miss Leonora Fiske. When Ellen’s two rather eccentric sisters are given permission to visit, they soon outstay their welcome and Miss Fiske wants them to leave.

It is however Miss Fiske who leaves: Ellen says that she has gone travelling, but has she?

And who is Albert, a young man claiming to be the sisters’ nephew? What does he want?

Why does Miss Fiske’s signature on her bank cheques suddenly look different?

Is there a secret Ellen is hiding, and can she keep it from her family?

The play runs from 28-29 August & 1-5 September 2015


Tickets available soon!

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Utility Warehouse – save money and support the Apollo Theatre at the same time!

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As I’m sure you can imagine, keeping the Apollo Theatre open and offering good theatre to the Isle of Wight costs a lot of money.  However, we’ve joined a great new scheme which means that up to 5% of your household bills will be donated to us – at no cost to you!  What do you have to do?  Just make one phone call or go to a website and you’ll be raising money for the Apollo Theatre every day, just by leading your normal life.
The scheme’s run by the Utility Warehouse Discount Club, part of Telecom Plus PLC, one of the UK’s leading public companies. They’re completely legit, and provide 400,000 UK homes and businesses with everyday utilities, like phone, internet, mobile phone, electricity and gas.
Here’s how it works: join the Utility Warehouse as a customer, and you can save a bundle by getting all your utilities in one place. The Utility Warehouse guarantees to save you money, compared to your current suppliers, when you switch services; and if you’re not totally happy you can go back to your current supplier’s higher prices at any time.  At the same time, they give up to 5% of your utility bill to us, every month. So everyone wins!
It’s easy to join. Just call 0800 131 3000 and they’ll answer all your questions and talk you through the process. Alternatively, you can visit our Utility Warehouse website, www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/K19890  and click on ‘join the club’.  Either way, it costs you nothing and you’re not obliged to sign up for anything… but, if you do, it could save you lots of money!
You’ll need to give them our appeal number – K19890 – to make sure your donations come to us.
Please join in and make a difference!  Call 0800 131 3000 or go towww.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/K19890 today, and quote our appeal number.
If you’d like to talk to a ‘real person’ to explain all this in more detail, drop the theatre Business Manager a line on info@apollo-theatre.org.uk to arrange a visit from our local Utility Warehouse representative.

Monday 13 July 2015

The Kitchen Sink Auditions

The Kitchen Sink is a contemporary comedy play, with a few dark overtones, about a family of four, who are going through some difficult times. Dad's milk round doesn't pay - and bits of his milk float are housed on the kitchen floor; his son is trying to get into Art College offering sequinned Dolly Parton pictures; his daughter's temper gets in the way of her martial arts ambitions; her well meaning boyfriend juggles plumbing and looking after his gran, and Mum tries to hold it all together while cooking sushi for Christmas dinner......

There are five roles for actors as follows:

Mother - female, playing age 40 - 50.
Father - male, playing age 40 - 55.
Son - male, playing age 17-18
Daughter - female, playing age 19-21
Boyfriend - male, playing age 19-21

If you are interested in auditioning for this play, please come along to the Apollo Theatre this evening at 7.15pm.

If you cannot make this time, and also if you would like to be involved in any other capacity, please leave a message on our Facebook page and we will get back to you.

Monday 22 June 2015

Shakespeare Revue - coming soon!!

The Apollo in Newport follows up the success of its production of The Tempest, with a Shakespeare revue show that was a big hit in London's West End for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
One critic described it as 'a joyous words-and-music anthology in loving mockery of the Bard'.

The Shakespeare Revue is a night of clever and witty entertainment inspired by Shakespeare's finest comedy writing, and features songs and sketches written by well-known names including Noel Coward, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, and the 'Beyond the Fringe' team, as well as specially written material by modern writers.

Director, Alain Smith, and his experienced cast plan to serve up what he describes as a 'fast moving and sparkling night' which will make audiences laugh, and at the same time pay respect to perhaps the greatest writer in the English language.

Alain said: "It's a true revue, in that the evening will be made up of a series of short sketches and songs. It is perfect for people who love Shakespeare, but great fun even if you don't!'

The Shakespeare Revue is on at the Apollo on July 3 and 4, and from July 7 to 11.

Tickets can be booked online at www.apollo-theatre.org.uk, or by calling the box office on 01983 527267

Friday 17 April 2015

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks - Review of our last production

....an actor's view.

Written by Helen Clinton-Pacey, who took the role of Lily in the show.


Usually when I've finished a play, I think, 'Enjoyed that, what's next'?

'Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks' has left a void, and I would love to have done it longer, got more 'into' Lily Harrison, and built an even stronger 'rapport' with Michael Minnetti.

I'd like to thank Isabel for giving me the opportunity to play such a lovely role. It's the 'first time' I've ever worn something 'glamorous'. Ifanyone can remember some of my 'previous outfits', bunny rabbit hops to mind, courtesy of Peggy, Liz and co.

This play  was a 'challenge' in more ways than one, not only was it a 2-hander, BUT I had to learn to DANCE!

Well I'll tell you a story: I sound like Max Bygraves!

A few years ago I fractured my skull - no sarcastic comments please, Alain, Ian, Paul, Mog, etc! This resulted in me having no balance or co-ordination, so when instructed by Alain, 'starting on your left', inevitably I'd use my right, and then 'tick-tock with my arms. This must have driven Alain 'crackers'. Thankyou sssoooo much for your patience.

And also a 'BIG' thankyou to John Abraham, a professionally trained dancer, who 'coped' admirably with my trips and falls (either that or he's an excellent actor). It was great working with you John.

Thanks also to set builders for my lovely apartment, sound, lighting, etc. I really loved S D L I S W, and hope that with John and I turning 'my dance hiccups' slightly quirky, to cater for Lily's age, we entertained. Not as 'comedic' as our final dress:what say you Mrs Reading?

Added to the above, I have arthritis in my left hip, and obviously it was not happy dancing, so I tried heat pads, wonderful, till I lifted my leg in the waltz an it fell off, fortunately only at rehearsal, so I dispensed with them, and suffered for my 'art', adrenalin is great!!


Wednesday 15 April 2015

100 Club

Box office receipts just about cover the expenses of running the Apollo, so to bring in additional income to help fund improvements to the theatre a maximum of 100 people donate £5 per month.  


Their names are entered into a prize draw and each month one person wins a cash prize of £50, except in February, when the prize is £250, and August, when one lucky winner will receive £500.  


To be in with a chance, download the 100 club application form and fill it in, give the relevant bit to your bank and pass the tear-off slip to the secretary, business manager or any member of the committee, or, for non-members,  hand it in to the box office.  


You’ll be entered into the draws from then on.  Good luck!

Wednesday 8 April 2015

Next Production - The Tempest

While the plot of this play, written in 1610-11 and thought by many critics to be the last that Shakespeare wrote alone, is well known, its lyrical beauty and other-worldliness set it apart from the majority of his canon.

 The play is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skilful manipulation. Using his magic powers he conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to lure his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio’s lowly nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso’s son, Ferdinand.

 ‘The Tempest’ was first performed at Court by the King’s Men in the autumn of 1611, and again in the winter of 1612–1613 during the festivities in celebration of the marriage of King James’s daughter Elizabeth.

 It is probably the last play written entirely by Shakespeare, and it is remarkable for being one of only two of his plays (the other being Love’s Labour’s Lost) whose plot is entirely original.

 The play does, however, draw on travel literature of its time—most notably the accounts of a tempest off the Bermudas that separated and nearly wrecked a fleet of colonial ships sailing from Plymouth to Virginia.

 The play has an eerie and dreamlike quality, making it seem rich and complex even though it is one of Shakespeare’s shortest, most simply constructed plays.

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

Directing the Apollo's next play has been a labour of love for Isabel Favell.

She first discovered 'Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks' on a twinning visit from Sandown to St Pete Beach in America, when the writer Richard Alfieri held a workshop to discuss his new play.
It went on to become one of the most regularly performed plays in the world, and can be seen at the Apollo on March 27, 28 and 31, and April 1 to 4.

The play tells the story of a formidable widow who takes private dancing lessons with an acerbic young dance teacher. Their different backgrounds give rise to a range of comic, and also emotional moments, as she eventually reveals her closely guarded secret, and he shares his greatest gifts.

The story revolves around each dance lesson as the characters - played by Helen Clinton-Pacey and John Abraham - dance the Swing, Foxtrot, Tango, Waltz, Cha-Cha, and Contemporary Dance.

Isabel said: "I have loved this play since the moment I was introduced to it, all those years ago. Richard Alfieri said it came about when he took his elderly mother to a tea dance at the Don Cesar Hotel, an imposing pink palace on the beach, and was surprised to see the number of elderly ladies dancing with young attractive men."

The assistant director Alain Smith has also been responsible for choreographing the dance scenes.
Online booking is now available at www.apollo-theatre.org.uk. Opening night tickets cost £8, and for other nights the cost is £8.50. 

Advance booking forms are available from a dispenser at the theatre's main entrance, and can also be downloaded from the website.

Welcome to the Apollo Theatre

Welcome to our new blog, where we will be posting articles on various topics related to The Apollo Theatre in Neport, Isle of Wight.

The Apollo Theatre is a member of the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain (LTG).  The little Georgian building is a  former Methodist chapel in Pyle Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, which was bought in 1970 and converted by a team of dedicated volunteers.  


Every year we put on a main season of seven shows as well as visiting productions,  vintage films, jazz concerts and other events.  

We are continually investing in the building and its facilities, and have state-of-the-art lighting and sound and a small but comfortable auditorium (with seats originally saved from Shanklin cinema!).  

The auditorium is wheelchair-accessible, with spaces for wheelchair users and an accessible loo close by, and there is a loop system for hearing-aid users.  

The well-stocked bar offers special themed cocktails and a new exhibition of local artists for each production in ‘Art in the Bar’.

For more information on what's on, what's coming up and more, visit our website at http://www.apollo-theatre.org.uk


.....and follow this blog for updates!