Babes in the Wood

The subject matter of this pantomime is based on an old English ballad first recorded in 1595 under the title of 'The Children of the Wood' or 'the Norfolk Gentleman's Last Will and Testament ' a similar story appeared in a book by Robert Yarington published in 1601. The story is supposedly true and is based on the story of a gentleman living near Watton in Norfolk. who, on his deathbed placed his two children in the care of his brother and left all his fortune to the children. The uncle's attempts to get hold of the money form the basis of the pantomime. To give more details would spoil the story The original  wood in the story was Wayland Wood that stands beside the A1075 East Dereham to Thetford Road and now owned by the Norfolk Naturalist Trust.
The story was featured as a musical in1793 in London and as a pantomime in 1827 at Drury Lane. In 1867 Robin Hood first  appeared in the story apparently Justified by Maid Marian being accidentally appointed the children's governess. That's pantomime for you!
The fate of the babes varied from their non-survival in some of the earlier versions (and the original ballad) to magical reappearances.
They have also had odd names the oddest being 'Tarara and Boomdeay ' This 400 year old story is still as popular as ever.

Peter Franklin
The funding of tickets for
Senior Citizens
was provided by

EXXON
&
SHELL
 
This is my first directing venture 'flying solo'.  How funny, that this first time, should be 'Babes in the Wood', as I played Jane (one of the babes) the first time Dalgety Players performed it in 1994.  I  have loads of experience on stage with many companies and in more than 25 shows playing all sorts of parts.  I would like to say that I have loved every minute of directing this show, and fingers crossed it goes alright on the night.

Good luck to you all!
Biographies

Sarah Williamson - Sarah has been dancing since the age of 4 and has appeared in many pantomimes in her home town of Blackpool.  Babes in the Wood is Sarah's first pantomime since moving to Fife three years ago and she is delighted to be performing the role of Alfred Acorn this week.

Dave Buchanan - Dave is a recent arrival in Dalgety Bay having spent most of his career teaching in Newton Stewart.  This is his first appearance with Dalgety Players and is very much looking forward to playing the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Jacqueline Hannan - Jacqueline loves pantomime best of all from everything in showbusiness she does!  She graduated last November in Acting/Performance gaining 'A' passes.  She is currently rehearsing 'Blood Brothers' by Willie Russel with Playfair Theatre Company, playing the role of Mrs Johnstone, which goes on tour in February. She teaches drama with Take 3 Theatre Company and has been an extra in an Irn Bru advert and River City.

Suzanne Doherty - Suzanne has been involved in amateur dramatics from the age of 11.  She has appeared in numerous shows with Carnegie Youth Theatre since Carousel in 1997.  Her most recent venture was in Sailor the Musical Journey where she was a dancer.  She is thoroughly enjoying her first 'trip' into panto.

Dot Patterson - Dot joined Dalgety Players this year after having met a few members during the production of Sailor the Musical Journey. Dot has also been in several musicals before, with DMTC and RDMS. She has never been involved in pantomime before and  is enjoying the experience.

Emma Campbell - This is Emma's first pantomime with Dalgety Players. She is thrilled to be playing a comedy role for a change.  Good luck to all the cast, have a great show.

Lorraine Dobie - Lorraine has been involved in Musical Theatre for over 20 years taking lead roles  such as Julie in Carousel, Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls and Rosemarie in Rosemarie.  She was also in Sailor the Musical Journey. This is her first pantomime and she is really enjoying the challenge of something new.



Nicola Rafferty - This is Nicola's first performance with Dalgety Players and she is really excited to be playing the part of  Maid Marion.  She has previously taken part in the musical Sailor the Musical Journey with some of the Babes in the Wood cast.

Natasha O'Brien - Natasha has been a member of Dalgety Players for one and a half years and has been in 3 pantomimes - Robin Hood, Aladdin and now she has been cast as Jane in Babes in the Wood. She is enjoying rehearsals and hopes that everyone enjoys the show.

Stevie Hannan - This is Stevie's second panto with Dalgety Players.  He developed the 'acting' bug when he played 'Ernest' in                 'Men Should Weep' by Ena Lamont at Lauder College 2 years ago.  He has since then performed in 'Bugsy Malone' as 'Babyface' at                   
St Columbas RC School where he is a second year pupil. His love lies in comedy.

Stephen Smythe - Steven has come through the youth system in Dunfermline and has appeared in many, many shows.  He first performed with Carnegie Youth Theatre. He played Judas in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' with Kingdom Musical Theatre, he was Pieter in 'Sailor the Musical Journey' and just lately he was the Crazy Dentist in 'Little Shop of Horrors' with Limelight Productions. Crazy is perhaps a very good description of this talented young man's personality and achievements. This is his first pantomime with Dalgety Players.







Pamela O'Neill - Pamela is 21 and has been on stage since an early age.  She has been in various shows with Carnegie Youth Theatre including Oklahoma when she played the part of Aunt Eller.  Her most recent show was Sailor the Musical Journey in which she was a dancer.  This is Pamela's first pantomime.

Derek Bowman - This is Derek's first pantomime and first show with Dalgety Players. It is an interesting and new experience for him and he is looking forward to it.

Greg Muirhead - Greg is 13 years old and has been cast as
Little Little John this year.  This is his second pantomime as he played Mini Wishee Washee in Aladdin last year.  He wishes Kathryn all the best.

Margaret Johnston - Margaret has been a member of Dalgety Players since 1993 and this is her 12th pantomime.  She has also appeared in numerous plays and sketches and has taken part in musicals with KMTC and LADAMA.  She has been an extra in many TV programmes, including Monarch of the Glen. Margaret works tirelessly behind the scenes as well, as she knows that without backstage crew there would be no show.

Nicola Doran - Nicola is 12 years old and is in first year at   St Columbas High School. She has appeared in several other shows with Starlight Theatre Company which include Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Aladdin. She lives in Rosyth with her Mum, Dad and two brothers. She hopes that everyone enjoys the show.

Colin McPhail - Colin has been a regular on the stage with the Players since 1990.  He finds himself, this year, playing the role of
King Richard, the same role he performed twelve years ago. He hopes that everyone enjoys this performance just as much.

Catriona Ainsworth - Catriona is thirteen years old and is in second year at Inverkeithing High School. She has been living in Dalgety Bay since August 2006. She hopes everyone enjoys the show.  

David Beckett - David has appeared in various shows over the years with Dalgety Players including Dramas, Musicals and Pantomimes. He also took part in 'Sailor the Musical Journey'.

Aaron Blackwood - This is Aaron's first pantomime with Dalgety Players. He is playing the part of a Villager and a Goblin. He is really looking forward to being in the pantomime.

Aimee Doig - Aimee is fourteen years old and attends Inverkeithing High School.  She has been a member of Dalgety Players since Easter 2006 and has made a lot of new friends.

Dean Gould - Dean is in second year and was thirteen this month. He plays the part of a Villager and a Goblin in the show.  He has also started drama classes this year at school.

Elise Johnston - Elise's first appearance with Dalgety Players was in the 2003 pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock, as a member of Jackie Mitchell's Dancing Class.  She has enjoyed taking part every year since then in various shows.

Lauren Mauchline - Lauren is fourteen and is in third year at school.  She attended Jackie Mitchells Dance Class and joined Dalgety Players two years ago as a dancer and to take part in the chorus.  She is really looking forward to the pantomime this year.

Lewis Mauchline - Lewis is in first year at school and is twelve.  He is playing the part of a Villager and a Goblin and is looking forward to the show.

Bryan Mottershaw - Bryan has been a regular acting member since 1994 playing a variety of principal and chorus parts, beginning with Dracula in the panto 'Little Red Riding Hood'.  He has played supporting acting roles in River City and various films.

Chelsea Murray - This is Chelsea's first pantomime with Dalgety Players.  She is in first year at school and is twelve.  She is playing the parts of a Villager, School kid and a Ghost.

Kieron Scrimger - Kieron has been in Dalgety Players for a year and a half. He has been in two plays and he was Sergeant Wong in Aladdin. He hopes everyone enjoys themselves.


 
Secretary's Report 2006

The past year has been a very busy and varied one in terms of performances.

The 2006 pantomime 'Aladdin' was a great success.  Praise must go not only to the cast but to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, despite, in some cases, having other heavy commitments (for example 'Sailor the Musical Journey').

This year a painting competition was held for the primary schools in Dalgety Bay.  Our thanks go to Donibristle Primary School for over 100 entries. The high standard of entries was such that we doubled the prize to the 2 best entries and displayed a selection of the paintings at the show.

Because of the financial success of the show it was decided to donate £300 towards helping the EMMS project for schools in Malawi. Nan Arnott was going out to Malawi in May and would purchase the materials in Malawi.  Our help was specific to provide books and writing materials for the poorest school.

I would also like to thank our sponsors without whom we would have difficulty in our aim to keep tickets at such reasonable prices especially for families.

In July club member Bill Blenman's musical 'Sailor' was produced in the Carnegie Hall with music by world famous composer George Kajanis who attended the first night. The show, which featured many club members in the cast, was a great success.

This year one of our members, Emma Dunn, was taking a year out to take part in the LINK OVERSEAS EXCHANGE SCHEME - working on community projects in Asia.  The club decided to put on a one-night variety show-'Linking Lines', to help Emma with the considerable amount of money she had to raise for the scheme.  The show included a play by Emma and performed by our junior members.  Everyone in the club turned out to perform and raised over £300 for the Fund.

The club once again took part in the Dalgety Bay Gala.

The clubs' new website was set up by club member Bill Blenman.

A further charity show was held in December and raised £300 for 'The Adopt an Orphan' Charity sponsored by church members, Gerty and Douglas Rew.

We will be presenting 'Ghost Night' as an entry in the SCDA one-act play festival, in the Buckhaven Theatre at the end of February 2007.

Peter Franklin
Secretary
 

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Dalgety Parish Church for their continuing support, for allowing us the use of the Church Hall for rehearsals, and for their help during this week's performances.

Thanks to Euroclean in Regent's Way for once again hosting Dorothy, Margaret and their box office.

Thanks to the Chicken Shop for supplying various props.

Thanks to Scottish Theatre Forum for publicising the pantomime on their web site www.scottishtheatreforum.com
Thanks to all the local businesses who have displayed our advertising posters.

Many thanks to everyone who has given their time to help behind the scenes without which the show could not go on.

About Dalgety Players

The club was formed in 1976 after a meeting in the old (wooden) church hall in Dalgety Bay with help from The Randolph Players Dunfermline, and was constituted in 1981.  The group is an open club and aims to promote interest in amateur entertainment in the community.  Full members have to be over 16 years of age, but, there is an associate membership for younger members between 12 and 16 years under certain conditions. New members are welcome in all areas of theatre, acting, staging, painting, costume etc.

Dalgety Players meet on Thursdays at 8pm in
Dalgety Parish Church Hall

New members always welcome
President: Irene Burt
Tel No: 01383 737212
Secretary: Peter Franklin
Tel No: 01383 412087

www.dalgetyplayers.org