Birmingham-based Friction Theatre, launched only two years ago, is a bit difficult to pin down. Are its members amateurs or professionals?
Kerry Murdock, who founded the group, quite understands the problem faced by the uninformed outsider, because she’s not too sure herself.
She says: “I guess we aren’t proper amateurs but then again we’re not professionals, yet – though that is the aim.
“We’re doing Mother Courage And Her Children at the Old Rep in October. For this show the actors aren’t being paid, but we are then going on to do a schools tour for which they will be paid.”
Notwithstanding their uncertain status, members have already presented four shows – and their brush with Brecht seems to be bravely surviving an unfair share of misfortune.
Not long after casting, the original Mother Courage had to drop out because of illness. A few days later the set designer had a stroke. Two of the cast have had mysterious and sudden back injuries and another caught swine flu.
Fortunately, everybody has come through and has promised to turn up to see the finished product, for which Naomi Gilbert has stepped into the central role. It runs – with two shows daily – from October 7-10. I wish it well.
* Bob Cotton stays firmly in step with his beloved Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society. The group, of which he is president, is celebrating its 85th anniversary – and Bob was 85 in July.
He has spent nearly 60 years in amateur theatre, starting in 1950 when he and his wife Jean founded Kingswinford Amateur Dramatic Society.
Ten years later, when Wordsley ADS had casting problems and KADS had unfortunately foundered, he helped out with a role in Book of the Month. Since then, he has appeared in more that 70 Wordsley productions, as well as another 16 for Dudley Little Theatre between 1979 and 1993.
He was busy for many years with set construction and, as well as directing 16 plays for WADS and one for DLT, he was at the helm for two one-act festival plays, both of which received awards.
WADS will present John Chapman’s Dry Rot – all too rarely seen these days – at Stream Road Methodist Church, Kingswinford, in October. Bob directed the group’s version in 1983 – and it is fitting, in this year of the double-85 celebrations, that he is again taking charge.
* Note from Lapworth Players on preparations for the annual pantomime: “At the time of writing, the following parts need to be filled: Ali (Sinbad’s brother), Guardian Spirit and the donkey.”
* What's On
Ladies’ Day: Swan Theatre Amateur Company, Swan Theatre, Worcester (until Saturday).
