A Monthly Publication

By Sandra Hohol, Publicity Officer

We are very proud to announce that THE LAVENDER HILL MOB THEATRE COMPANY WINS THE GOLD STANDARD GROUP AWARD FOR VOLUNTEERING AND HELPING OTHERS, AT THE OPPORTUNITY AWARDS 2009!

              We are also very proud to announce that Archie Andrews (many of you will no doubt remember him on radio and TV in the 50’s and 60’s!) is our new Patron.  His Guardian, Colin Burnett-Dick is director of a residential home for adults with learning disabilities so appreciates the hard, but very rewarding, work that goes into helping such people lead ordinary lives and to enjoy doing things that everyday people take for granted.  Archie came to the opening night of our show ‘Something For Everyone’, and yes he did sit in the audience!  Even though he is a ventriloquist’s dummy, there is something special about him!  He has met hundreds of people from the Beatles to the Queen and now he has been to Hunstanton and met the Lavender Hill Mob Theatre Company!  He is also very keen to support the Theatre and to keep this going as many of his companions in his shows started out on stage and became household names.  His ventriloquist, Steve, very expertly brought Archie back to life with his quick wit and cheekiness and we were very honoured to have him visit the Theatre.

‘Something For Everyone’ was a show full of music from the 1950’s with songs from Ella Fitzgerald, Mama Cass, and a bonanza of classics from Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Bill Haley and many more.  Plus hilarious sketches, one of which was in a nursing home which I am sure that many people could relate to!  We even had our own version of Archie Andrews and Peter Brough introducing the act! Well done to the kids for giving the audiences such wonderful professional, non-stop entertainment – some even said it was better than some of the Cromer ‘end of the pier’ shows!  Thank you to all involved in putting this together, too numerous to mention.  Thanks also to the kind donations received.

Archie meets Archie!

Without the theatre Hunstanton would not be a proper seaside resort. Groups such as ours, plus the professionals themselves, would not be able to showcase their abilities in a professional environment and the whole community would lose out on such wonderful entertainment.  Our own shows could have done with more support from local people, but if there is little support for shows (not just ours), how can Hunstanton and the area justify signing a petition to keep the Princess Theatre and the Arts Centre going.  Please do not just sign the petitions in the town because they are there – go to shows, see what people do and support them and the theatre in this way.  The theatre will still be open for several months yet and hopefully much longer, but the public need to use it even more.  Prices for some shows are not extortionate and who knows, you may have an enjoyable time!!

Talking of which, Lavender Hill’s version of Aladdin at Easter, may be the very last Pantomime at the Princess Theatre if it closes at the end of next season, so please go along to this and – tickets will be available shortly and are not costly!  YOUR THEATRE NEEDS YOU!

If you would like to become a ‘Friend’ of the Lavender Hill Mob Theatre Company, please let me know.  Donations, sponsorships and funding are of course always welcome, but you can support us in other ways too, by donating prizes for Tombola and Raffle, etc. A Newsletter will start in the New Year.   See contact details below.

We are an ‘inclusive’ group, from age 4, no matter what disability, ability or capability – everyone is welcome to join us.  No auditions, no membership limit and you can do whatever you can do – there is no pressure and our workshops are very informal. We put the fun into Performing Arts.  All workshops are held at St Edmunds Church Hall, Hunstanton; Dance and Movement on Mondays, 5pm -7/8pm, Tuesdays, Workshops for All, 5-7pm, Writing and Devising on Wednesdays, 5-8pm.  More information on our website www.lhmtc.co.uk or from me, Sandra Hohol (Publicity Officer) on 01485 534827 or email CLOAKING