2008 - Steel Magnolias

Director: Helen Paige

Our show for 2008 was Steel Magnolias which was staged to raise money for the Soldiers, Sailor, Airmen & Families Association (SSAFA)

Steel Magnolias is an hilarious and touching play for 6 women and is set in a beauty parlour in Louisiana.

2007 - Ten Times Table

Director: Rob Merrett

In 2007, we produced Alan Ayckbourn’s 10 Times Table. 

The small village of Pendon needs a bit of a lift - some excitement. To provide this a committee is set up to re-create the most significant event in Pendon’s history - the massacre of the Pendon twelve, when the Duke of Dorset crushed an uprising of rebellious workers

As the arrangements progress the committee become increasingly divided until the pageant itself dissolves into high farce - re-creating the original events but not as anyone intended.

2006 - When We Are Married

Director: Rob Merrett

Set in 1908 in Yorkshire, the young organist of the village church is courting Nancy, the niece of Alderman Helliwell who doesn't think very much of the companionship. With two other leading citizens and churchgoers he calls the young man, Gerald, to his home to warn him off the relationship It is with some glee that the organist informs them that he has discovered the parson was not qualified to marry couples and consequently the village's three staunchest and most respected couples - about to celebrate their 25th anniversaries - are not legally married at all. The effect of the announcement is cataclysmic.

Before things are settled, lives have been jarred amusingly and smugness has given way to hilarious adventure.

Rob Merrett made his directorial debut this year was very excited at the prospect, saying "I have benefited from the skills of our previous directors, and tried their patience on several occasions! Well, now has come the time to use that valuable experience in a different role"

2005 - This Happy Breed

Director: Charlotte Mannion

Eight years ago we performed our first and at that time our ‘one off’ production of ‘Oh What a Lovely War’. It ended when peace was declared and the men who had survived the carnage came home to a very changed England. This play has allowed us to show you ‘ what happened next…..’ 

And what an effort for us all….We did not get into rehearsals until the beginning of October due to a problem of licensing for the show we had planned. We also struggled with a play which relentlessly moves through 20 years of turbulent history making huge demands on the wardrobe and makeup team as well as for those seeking out accurate props to dress our production. But as usual the members of the Ridgeway Theatre Company pulled out all the stops and committed themselves to what is possibly our biggest challenge yet. 

Yet again I’m delighted that our ensemble cast includes two new members and lots of your old favourites; all dedicated and committed to help you to wallow in the nostalgia of life in England between the Wars.

As always, thank you for coming here tonight. We couldn’t have done it without your continued support and encouragement.

Charlotte Mannion

November 2005

2004 - Waiting for Panto

Director: Charlotte Mannion

Well here’s something completely different for you this year and, well, completely different for us too…………………I’m sure it will give you an unprecedented insight into the workings of the Ridgeway Theatre Company.

It has been, as it always is, a huge pleasure to direct this splendid cast and work with such an amazing back stage team.  You will see that as well as our own reliable and experienced players (who include some who have grown up in these productions!) we have, yet again, tempted more new people to join us in this ‘one off’ annual production.

It’s very easy to stand back as the director and take all the praise (assuming you enjoy it!) but I’ve had masses of help with the direction with ideas from everyone….. I especially want to thank the author Mike Williams for his overall understanding of what he wanted us to achieve. (Did I really bully him into writing the script?) Lynda Farrington who helped us to make sense of the Shakespeare (and politely told me how to pronounce most of it) and Elizabeth Kerry who created the dance routines and rehearsed our chorus line (when she wasn’t gently reminding me that I had changed all the direction again!)

It’s a great team effort…………………………So thank you all so much for supporting us.  Having a great audience makes it all worthwhile

Charlotte Mannion
Director 2004
 

2003 - Pygmalion

Director: Lynda Farrington

Pygmalion, the inspiration for Lerner and Lowe's magical musical My Fair Lady, remains today a classic of the English stage, having amused and entertained audiences since its première in 1914.  The play charts Henry Higgins’ transformation of Eliza Doolittle, the common flower-girl of Covent Garden, into a consort fit for a king.

Yet it is more than a modern fairy-tale. It is part of Shaw’s greatness that he can make us laugh while also making us think.

In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a king of Cyprus who fell in love with an ivory statue he had carved.  When Aphrodite breathed life into it, he married the woman and named her Galatea.

This production was a chance to re-discover the myth that has fascinated generations, in all its complexity, vitality and comic ingenuity.

The action of the play is set in London in 1912.

Pygmalion was our most successful play to date - raising £2000 for the Meningitis Research Foundation as well as £300 towards Holy Cross Church

2002 - Much Ado About Nothing

Director: Tina Burbidge

In 2002 we staged Much Ado About Nothing.,   Much Ado About Nothing  tells the tale of two couples: Claudio and Hero who are starstruck in love, but for whom the path of true love does not run smooth; and Beatrice and Benedick, who spend most of their time trying to outdo each other in witty insults, but are tricked into love by the wily Don Pedro.

We returned to our original charity, The Friends of Holy Cross, raising £1500.

2001 - Our Town

Director: Charlotte Mannion

For 2001, the play was Our Town, by Thornton Wilder.   'Our Town' was first produced in New York in 1938 and received rave reviews from the New York press. It is the story of a small town in New Hampshire with a population of 2640 - about the same as Chiseldon - and tells you something of the character of its citizens between 1901 and 1913.  It shows how ordinary people live - their dreams, aspirations, frustrations and desires. It is a play that reflects life with all its shadows and lights.

Thornton Wilder, who died in 1975, was a prolific playwright, translator, novelist, essayist and letter-writer.  He also wrote several film scripts, and in the last two decades of his life was showered with honours including the American Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the USA.

Again we raised about £1800 - this time for the Swindon Women's Refuge. 

2000 - Cold Comfort Farm

Director: Charlotte Mannion

The 2000 production was Cold Comfort Farm and raised a similar sum for the Swindon Young Carers.  A comic play by Paul Doust from the novel by Stella Gibbons set in the 1930s, it was first performed in 1991 at  the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, was a BBC film, and is probably best known for the line by Aunt Ada, who 'saw something narsty in the woodshed'!

1999 - Under Milk Wood

Director: Charlotte Mannion

In 1999 the Company staged Under Milk Wood.  We raised £1800 for the Tomas Sands Appeal, a fund set up in memory of a local boy to support CALM, the respite care charity.

1998 - Oh, What A Lovely War!

Director: Charlotte Mannion

Our first production was Oh, What a Lovely War! to mark the 80th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice, and to raise money for the Friends of Holy Cross.  Mike Williams' computerised sound and visual effects for Oh,  What a Lovely War! are now available for hire. This is a group which helps to maintain the village church. £2000 was donated to the renovation of the roof.

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