Broadmayne Players

For the last quarter of the 20th century, drama, both serious and humorous,has been alive and well in Broadmayne. However, before recording the most recent productions of our Broadmayne Players tribute must be paid to an imaginative and enthusiastic lady, Veronica Long, who in the 1970s and 1980s produced shows ranging from pantomime to mini-pageant.The pageant depicted glimpses of our local history over the last 2000 years.

Several pantomimes were written and produced by Veronica in the old hall. ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ in 1979 saw Ken Salt in his first show as dame, supported by Fred Cross, Chris Sherriff, Wendy Stent, Paul Read and Leo Warton-Eyres. Many others followed, ‘Puss in Boots’, with Wendy Stent as Puss, Gordon Pitman as a fairy and Andrew Spriggs as the giant. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ in 1981 with Helen Griffin as the Queen and Major Kenion as the King, and Anthony May and Fred Cross as Arabs, all in full costume. Finally, in the old hall, a Grand Closing Down Show in 1983 involved all the past performers in a variety show playing to packed audiences.

The opening of our new Village Hall in 1987, with its large auditorium and raised stage, encouraged the formation of ‘The Players’ in May of that year to provide light entertainment by the residents of our village. ‘The Broadmayne Players’ were formed from a general meeting in May 1988 in the new hall and the first committee comprised Mrs D Sealy, Mrs S Booth, Mr J Griffin, Mrs M Moorcroft as Secretary, Mr A Watts as Treasurer and Mr K Salt as chairman, elected from an attendance of 36. Miss Veronica Long declined to stand as a member of the committee. An initial constitution was agreed within the committee and there followed a succession of plays, pantomimes and productions on the new stage. Before Veronica’s untimely death in 1994 she had seen the establishment of the officially constituted Broadmayne Players, who have since followed her example by giving two or three varied entertainments each year, as well as hosting social events and parties open to all our supporters. Excellent support has always been available for all the behind-the-scenes roles. Children and teenagers have always been encouraged, and have occasionally formed their own cast in appropriate productions.

Individual names continue to appear, with typically two play productions and a pantomime each year; to date, we have presented twenty four plays and nine Pantos in our new hall. These are listed, from an Agatha Christie ‘A Day at the Seaside’, featuring Fred Cook, Howard O’Borne, Anthony May, Leo Warton-Eyres, and Wendy Stent, in 1989, to ‘George’ by Derek Hichman, a hospital comedy starring Don Jowitt and Steve Youngs. In 1992 Mick Button wrote a play called ‘Unwanted Visitors’ but, in general, our plays were by professional authors, whilst, from 1979 until ‘Aladdin’ in 1993, pantomimes were written by Veronica Long. A cast of over forty was the norm,with many children, playing on four or more occasions to audiences of one hundred or more, with many scene changes, decorative backdrops and lighting effects engineered by Geoff Small. Music and effects for many of these was provided by Mike Denham on his keyboard.

Under the direction of Veronica, these shows were produced with the minimum of cost, thus enabling large donations to be made to the Dorset Hospice (£500) and the Playing Fields (£500), the Youth Club (£250), surgery (£250) and school (£300).In 1993 Richard Lawson took over as writer and director for ‘Aladdin’ with Zoe Jarvis in the star role, supported by Janet Tilley, Judy Venton, Mick Button and then in 1994, ‘Puss in Boots’ with Sarah Cartwright as Puss and David Ennals as the dame; Marjorie Barrett produced and Patrick Milner provided the music. For the 1995 production ‘Beauty and the Beast’, Becky Bush was the star, with Carl Borries, Deanna Robinson, Marie-Clare Lawson, David Ennals and Richard Lawson, whilst in 1996 a written show, ‘Frankenstein’, provided a change from the usual-style pantomime, with further additions to the cast in Ian Dawe, Andy Patterson, and Sue Lee.

After a break, a fresh producer, Gill Fox, directed ‘Sinbad’ and introduced Neil Read as the dame with Kay Ward, Don Jowitt, Howard Fox, and Rosie Pollard in support, with musical direction under Cyril Sealy. ‘Babes in the Wood’ in 1999 featured Neil and Paul Read, with Ben Morgan and Howard Fox as the comedy duo, music by Cyril Sealy and wardrobe again by Edna Colton, and stage sets by Vic Fiveash and Sandy Gore.

The panto always has the greatest appeal of the year because it involves so many people, young and definitely not so young, and no-one at any of the four performances could have failed to appreciate the enjoyment of audience and players alike. If privileged to peep behind the scenes they would have been proud of the spirit of co-operation from some 40 villagers whose hard work helped to produce such a colourful and lively show. A crowded dressing room and back stage activities demand a high degree of tolerance and good humour, as thirty or so cast members try to find a square foot in which to dress and make up amongst tables loaded with countless accessories and props, each of which will be suddenly required on stage. Meanwhile a few anxious players huddle in the wings, script in hand, desperately trying a check up on their next entrance. But the magic of the moment always works, and each man, woman or child, spanning a 60 year age range, steps out into the footlights clad and equipped to entertain. Several young solo singers were also able this year for the first time to add their voices to the pantomime , supported by the new ‘Clavinova’ keyboard bought by the Village Hall Committee with some assistance from our funds. They and other young instrumentalists performed specially written music, so there was pleasure in sound as well as in spectacle. An abiding memory of this whole event will be the sheer relief and excitement exuded by our younger participants at their last-night party; they returned to the stage and revelled in impromptu song and dance – the strain over and the job well done. Then, after various presentations had been made to the adults who trained and supported them so well at all stages of preparation and performance, they were pleading for a promise for another pantomime in year 2000. We duly obliged with ‘Cinderella’.

Click HERE to see the plays performed by The Players to date;