February 2017 February 2017 February 2017 February 2017

Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre’s January 2017 production of ‘ELF Jr The Musical’ was an outstanding success. The audiences loved this`sparklejollytwinklejingley’ show just as much as the youngsters in the show.

Bodybuilding Competition 22nd April from 12 noon Tickets £14

SEE PAGE 2 FOR TICKET BOOKING DETAILS

4th February 2017 A 7 piece tribute band from

Northern England who have been

celebrating the sights and

sounds of Pink Floyd since 2014.

Tickets £12 (seniors £10) Doors 7.00 for 7.45 pm start

Doors 7.00 for 7.30 pm Saturday Matinee 2.00 pm

Editor: Milly Greenwood Tel: 01282 690598 e-mail millyg@btinternet.com Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, New Market Street, Colne, Lancs, BB8 9BJ Tel. 01282 863210 www.phtheatre.co.uk Registered Charity No: 513275 Limited Co: 1664358

Pendle Hippodrome

Theatre Company Adults - £12 Under 19s - £8 Senior Citizens - £10

PENDLE HIPPODROME THEATRE

CLASSIC FILM NIGHT

Saturday 11th February by Irvine Berlin and starring

Fed Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Just some of the cast of ‘The Pajama

Game’

PLEASE NOTE:

Regrettably the Discover Pendle Centre at Boundary Mill has now closed and you will no longer be able to book t icke ts f or Pend le Hippodrome Theatre shows there.

We would like to thank all the staff at Discover Pendle for their services over the years and wish them all a successful future in their new employment, whatever it may be.

‘TOP HAT’ Saturday 11th February

at 7.30 pm All the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age of musicals will be brought to the Hippodrome’s

big screen when ‘Top Hat’ is featured as the February Classic Film.

Sit back in your seat and enjoy as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers glide effortlessly round the screen in this classic 1935 movie. The brilliant Irvine Berlin score includes ‘Cheek to Cheek’, ‘Isn’t it a Lovely Day’ and the fabulous title song ‘Top Hat’.

Rated as one of the best and funniest Astaire-Rogers films the dance routines are said to be near to perfection. A must see film. See the previous column for ways to book your tickets or just come

along on the night. Tickets £5.

‘THE CRUEL SEA’ Saturday 13th May at 7.30 pm

No to be missed, the season of Classic films continues with ‘The Cruel Sea’ released in 1953 and based on the book by Nicholas Monsarrat.

A Classic example of the docudramatic style that, spurning the gung-ho heroics of Hollywood, characterised the best British war films. The performances of Jack Hawkins and his all-star crew reinforce the sense of realism.

This is a story of the Battle of the Atlantic, the story of an ocean, two ships, and a handful of men. The men are the heroes, the heroines are the ships. The only villain is the sea, the cruel sea, that man has made more cruel...

Tickets £5 - See previous column for ways to book your tickets

or just come along on the night.

Booking

Arrangements for ALL

Pendle Hippodrome

Shows

AT THE THEATRE

THE THEATRE BOX OFFICE WILL BE OPEN FOR BOOKING

WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY

10.00 am - 1.00 pm from 4th March to 24th March

Call in and book your seats or ring 01282 863210 during

opening hours. NO Booking fee

ONLINE

LOG IN TO www.phtheatre.co.uk Follow the Online Booking Instructions

Theatre plan available Online Booking Fee Applicable

BOOKING OUTLET

Central Garage Fence Call in and book your tickets or ring

01282 617315 NO Booking Fee

ON THE DOOR

COME ALONG TO ANY PERFORMANCE AND BOOK AT

THE THEATRE BOX OFFICE

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The Pajama Game is a bright and breezy, sunny and funny musical full of great finger-clicking toe-tapping song and dance. The whole show sizzles and zingingly zips along with such classic songs as ‘Hey There’, ‘Once a Year Day’, ‘Steam Heat’ and the unforgettable ‘Hernando’s Hideaway’.

Several new faces are amongst the cast of this great musical comedy which will hit the stage at the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre in March. At the Sleep-Tite Pajama factory love is in the air as handsome new Superintendent Sid Sorokin played by Josh Hindle falls head-over-heels for firebrand union rep Babe Williams played by Penelope Hatfield. But when the employees are refused a seven-and-a-half cents an hour raise, sparks fly and the couple find themselves deliciously at odds.

Sid and Babe aren't the only ones with troubles of the heart. Hines the pedantic time-and-motion man, played by newcomer to the Hippodrome Blue Blezard, is prone to knife-throwing fits of jealousy. He is in love with the boss’s secretary, Gladys, played by Sophie Greenwood. She in turn is being pursued by Prez, who leads a very tangled love life and who will be played by another newcomer Rob Riley. Eric Beardsworth, Mark Brady, Paige Brett, Orm Green, Jill Harrison, Ken Horsfield, Helen Nelson and David Smith plus the many workers at the Sleep-Tite Pajama factory make up the rest of the cast in this uproarious musical comedy.

Will love eventually conquer all? You will have to come along and find out.

Tickets are priced at £12 Adults, £10 Concessions and £8 under 19s. See opposite for ways to book your seats.

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Tues 21st to Sat 25th March at 7.30 nightly

with a Saturday Matinee at 2 pm

NODA Districts 3 & 12 Awards

The NODA District 3 & 12 Awards and Dinner was held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel at Clayton le Moors on 21st January. The glittering occasion was for all the groups within the area to get together and celebrate the superb local ta len t wh ich is a round. The nominations were announced in early January and Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre and Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company had between them received an amazing 23 nominations

And they were:

PENDLE HIPPODROME YOUTH THEATRE

NOMINATIONS

►Best Youth Production ’The Wizard of Oz’ Directed by Josh Hindle, Musical Director Lisa Manley and Choreographer Helen Cheung

►Best Artistic Direction of a Youth Production Josh Hindle ‘The Wizard of Oz’

►Best Leading Youth Performer Brogan Riley (Dorothy) ‘The Wizard of Oz’

►Best Supporting Youth Performer Fletcher Smith (Tin Man) ‘The Wizard of Oz’

►Best Youth Comedy Performance •Dale Blackburn (Cowardly Lion) ‘The Wizard of Oz’ •James Holt (Scarecrow) ‘The Wizard of Oz’

PENDLE HIPPODROME THEATRE COMPANY

NOMINATIONS

►Best Musical ‘’Grease’ Directed by Howard G Raw, Musical Director Lisa Manley and Choreographer Helen Cheung

►Best Male Lead in a Musical Josh Hindle (Danny) ‘Grease’

►Best Female Lead in a Musical Karen Wilkinson (Sandy) ‘Grease’

►Best Female Comedy Performance Emily Williamson (Jan) ‘Grease’

►Best Supporting Male in a Musical Jack Herbert (Roger) ‘Grease’

►Best Supporting Female in a Musical Jade Brett (Marty) ‘Grease’

►Best Artistic Direction of a Musical Howard G Raw ‘Grease’

►Best Choreographer Helen Cheung ‘Grease’

► Best Musical Direction Lisa Manley ‘Grease’

►Best Play ‘Blackadder’ Directed by Rosemary Osborne

►Best Artistic Direction of a Play

Rosemary Osborne ‘Blackadder’

►Best Male Lead in a Play Darren Williams (Edmund Blackadder) ‘Blackadder’

►Best Female Lead in a Play Holly Fairburn (Queenie) ‘Blackadder’

►Best Supporting Male in a Play Josh Hindle (Lord Percy) ‘Blackadder’

►Best Male Comedy Performance Anthony Brown (Dr Leech) ‘Blackadder’

►Best Concert/Revue Diamonds and Pearls

►Best Ensemble Performance Chorus ‘Diamonds and Pearls’

Congratulations to all the nominees

4 5

PUB PROGRESS

The pub at last has a shiny new roof, well it is shiny when it’s raining! But it’s now sound and weather proof and not letting the wind and rain through to spoil whatever is going on inside. The scaffolding is all gone and now the next stage can begin.

The architect has been contacted and hopefully, as we go to press, has begun to put the plans for the inside onto paper.

It’s a slow job! The Craft Fair and the building of the ‘Elf’ set have had to take priority, plus all the numerous more pressing jobs in the Theatre. But progress is being made and one day…..!

CRAFT FAIR

The 28th Annual Craft Fair has now been packed up, stored away and put to bed.

BUT work has already begun on the 29th Annual Craft Fair which will be held at the Theatre 18th to 26th November 2017. The Committee are hard at work looking through the a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r s t a l l s a n d endeavouring to bring new and exciting exhibitors to the Fair. There is already a long list of both new and returning craftsmen and women seeking to fill the Theatre with the most wonderful array of arts, crafts and gifts.

We would like thank all the many volunteers who helped in any way to make the Annual Arts, Crafts and Gifts Fair a resounding success. Although footfall was down on the last few years due to the inclement weather (it snowed and was cold, rainy, icy and very windy) we made a very much needed profit for the Theatre of over £10,000.

Thank you all once again, helpers, exhibitors and shoppers, and if you would like a stall at our 2017 Craft Fair please get in touch with Sheila soon at sheilawkeogh@gmail.com.

60 Years of Service

Harry being presented with his 60 years NODA Long Service Award

Life Member of Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company and Friend of the Hippodrome Harry Nuttall, has clocked up an amazing 60 years of service to local Theatre. He has appeared with most of our local Societies and taken many leading roles over the years.

Although now retired from the stage Harry is still a regular attender and helper at the Hippodrome. He is pictured receiving his Award from Theatre Company Chairman Keith Walton at the Craft Fair in November where he was volunteering as doorman.

Congratulations on your Long Service Award Harry

See page 9 for more information and our winners

in this year’s NODA Awards

Youth Theatre News 6 Theatre Company News 7

Annual General Meeting Tuesday 21st February - 7.30 pm start

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre The Officials of the Company will be elected.

Committee members will be elected. Representatives to the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre

Board of Directors will be elected. Accounts for the year will be put before the meeting.

It is important that all members attend the meeting so please come along and support Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company at the Annual General Meeting.

ALL MEMBERS WELCOME.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Annual Members’ Subscriptions for Pendle

Hippodrome Theatre Company are now due for 2017 and can be paid at the Annual General Meeting. Please see Liz O’Connell or Susan Thorp.

Note: Debit/Credit Card payments for subscriptions will now be accepted BUT only at the AGM.

An introduction to ‘RENT’, the Theatre Company’s Autumn 2017 production, will be held on

Tuesday 4th April at 7.30 pm in the Theatre bar The first rehearsal will be at

Colne Ambulance Hall on Thursday 6th April.

The Production Team of Josh Hindle Director, Jack Herbert Musical Director and Helen Cheung Choreographer, will be introduced and present a brief outline of the show. Rehearsals will be held on Monday and Thursday evenings at Colne Ambulance Hall with some Sunday rehearsals nearer the show. Audition dates and requirements will also be outlined at the introductory evening.

Come along and join the cast. ‘Rent’ is being staged 19th to 23rd Sept 2017. Past, present and new members will all be welcome.

The very enjoyable and successful ‘ELF jr. The Musical’ has sadly come to an end and it’s now time to move on to the next spectacular musical ‘Annie’.

The Youth Theatre members have been taking a short break before they get ready for another fun filled year. The doors will be thrown open once again on 5th March at 10.30 am starting with a series of workshops before rehearsals proper begin for ‘Annie’ in the late Spring. ‘Annie’ will be Directed and Choreographed by Vicky Royle with Laura Schofield acting as assistant Director and the Musical Director will be Lisa Manley.

If you would like to come and join in the fun, membership of the Youth Theatre is open to all young people providing they are 10 years old or over. Performing and non-performing members are all welcome, no previous experience is necessary and no audition is required to take part in a production, although auditions are required for principal roles. Membership is currently £10 per year and there is a £1 per rehearsal charge which covers rehearsal room rent and insurance etc. Rehearsals are held at Colne Ambulance Hall on Sunday mornings 10.30am to 12.30 pm with rehearsals extended to 3 pm nearer the show.

Come and join the fun ’Annie’ is only the start!

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO PLAY

There will be a casting read through for ‘It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play’ in the Theatre Bar Tuesday 28th February at 7.30 pm. Anyone interested in taking part is cordially invited to come along and meet the Director Stevan Manley and read in. This beloved American classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. This is a fresh and inventive way of reconnecting with a classic story of love and redemption. And you never know an angel may get his wings!

To add to the fun this classic Christmas Story will be staged in June 2017 ! Past, present and new members will all be welcome.

ELF goes to ASDA

NODA Award for Lisa

Julie Scott, Chairman of Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre, had the honour of presenting Lisa Manley with a rare and very prestigious NODA Commendation Award at Pendle Hippodrome’s Grand 30th Anniversary Celebration and Ceilidh, which was held at Nelson Cricket Club in October. Lisa has acted as Musical Director for numerous Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre shows and has also served on the Youth Theatre’s Committee. The Award is to recognise her dedication and many years of service to Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre.

Thanks to the generosity of the shoppers at Colne ASDA members of Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre raised a staggering £500 for PHYT funds when they held a Tombola in the foyer of the Colne store in December. They were promoting not only their forthcoming show ‘Elf,’ but the Youth Theatre and the Hippodrome Theatre. Thanks to ASDA for all their help and all the members, committee and parents who turned up to help with the stall.

Lisa Manley

Christmas with the Youth Theatre

November and December were busy times for many of our Youth Theatre members. They started by joining in the Radio Lancashire Bed Push through Colne for Children in Need. They posed for photos with the BBC presenters outside the Ambulance Hall in Colne as they took a short break from rehearsals.

Their promotion of ‘ELF’ began when they were invited by LBS Garden Centre in Trawden to join in their Christmas shop opening day. They dressed in their best ELF costumes and sang to entertain the crowds.

Next came the Annual Craft Fair at the Theatre when several young members could be found clearing tables and helping with the washing up in the ’Café Supreme’.

The following Saturday the youngsters were to be found at ASDA in Colne holding a Tombola to raise much needed funds for their production of ELF (report on page 6).

Then on 17th December they again put on their ELF T-shirts and did the Theatre proud as they sang at the Hippodrome Christmas Concert ‘A Musical Christmas’

And last but not least, even though they were busy rehearsing for ELF, they still found time to bring Christmas cheer to the residents of several old peoples Care Homes in the area. They donned their Christmas jumpers, hats, and ELF costumes and went carol singing at Belvedere, Andrew Smiths, Dove Court, Nelson Manor and The Grange, Care Homes.

A special thank you to Peter Elmer, Gillian Mason and Lisa Manley for their help with the songs and

carols and to all the adults who attended the events with the youngsters.

Well done guys, hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year

New Plan

The seating arrangements at the Theatre have been altered. Well only slightly, but we hope these weren’t your favourite seats for shows!

Row A at the front of the Theatre was formally allocated to wheelchair users but this meant that at some shows, where the side extension or the steps were being used, the occupants had restricted viewing. After much consultation by our maintenance team it was decided to re-locate the wheelchair row and the seats reserved for their attendants to a new position in the Theatre.

Seats 17 to 22 on rows E and F in the stalls have been removed to accommodate wheelchairs and seats 17 to 22 on row G will be allocated to wheelchair attendants.

We hope this solves the problem and allows all our audience the best views.

8 9 And the winners are ….And the winners are ….And the winners are ….And the winners are …. Pendle Hippodrome were the proud winners of three Awards at the NODA District 3 & 12 Awards which were held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel at Clayton le Moors on 21st January.

Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre member Dale Blackburn won the Award for Best Youth Comedy Performance as The Cowardly Lion in the Youth Theatre’s 2016 production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

Jack Herbert won Best Supporting Male in a Musical for his part as Roger in Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company’s March 2016 show ‘Grease’.

And finally Holly Fairburn won the Best Female Lead in a Play for her role as Queenie in Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company’s June play ‘Blackadder’.

The winners will now go forward to the NODA North-West Regional Awards in Manchester in May.

Unfortunately Dale could not be at the glittering Awards ceremony as he was on stage at the Hippodrome appearing in Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre’s production of Elf. Jack also had a previous engagement.

Coming to the Hippodrome

There are some fabulous shows set to come to the Hippodrome in 2017/2018 and there’s something for everyone!

’The Pajama Game’ is set to hit the stage in March 2017.

June 2017 sees something different ‘It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play’.

Then it’s a more modern twist as ‘RENT’ comes to the stage in September 2017.

‘Barnum’ staged by BASICS Junior Theatre School bounces onto the Hippodrome stage in October.

Then it’s into another year and ‘Annie jr’ will be presented by Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre in February 2018.

You will be looking on the ‘Bright Side of Life’ as Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company present Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ in March 2017

And finally the play for June 2018 will be a return to the hilarious ‘Fawlty Towers’.

As your Editor said “Something for everyone and watch out for further announcements for 2018”.

Holly with her NODA Award

A Musical Christmas

The auditorium of the Theatre was full as Colne Orpheus Male Voice Choir, PYO Music, Nelson Ladies Civic Choir and Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre

joined together when the Theatre hosted a feast of Christmas music with ‘A Musical Christmas’. An excellent evening’s entertainment was enjoyed by all.

The evening ended with a festive sing along and everybody went home to celebrate Christmas with a smile on their face and a song in their heart.

Marjorie Kemp 22nd November 2016 Aged 90 years

Marjorie served the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre and St John’s AO&DS in many different ways and was a Life Member of Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company.

She served as Treasurer of Pendle Hippodrome Theatre for over 22 years from May 1986 until her retirement in May 2009. She was also a serving member of the Board of Directors of Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, a position she also retired from in 2009. She was the Secretary of St John’s AO&DS for many years until her retirement in 2002. She was a leading member of Pendle Hippodrome Theatre’s Craft Fair Committee since its inception in 1986, only retiring from that post in 2011. As Treasurer of the Craft Fair she became a legend in her own lifetime. It was seen as fitting that she should pass away during the Annual Craft Fair and we shall remember her at her post behind the Box Office every year.

Edris Bracewell 25th November 2016 Aged 78 years

Edris was a very familiar face at Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, along with his wife Margaret. He joined the St John Ambulance Brigade at a very young age and eventually set up the Colne First Aid Services at Colne Ambulance Hall. He organised his volunteer First Aiders to attended events and functions in and around Colne and Nelson, including all Hippodrome shows and events. He was an avid supporter of the Theatre and held First Aid courses at the Theatre teaching CPR and First Aid techniques for our volunteers, all free of charge. He was also a Trustee of Colne Ambulance Hall Trust where we all hold our rehearsals.

Beverley Walker 6th January 2017 Aged 55 years

Bev was a member of Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company. She first joined the Company in 2010 and was a member of the chorus in ’The Producers’ in 2011. Shortly afterwards she was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumour but despite her illness she bravely went on to appear on the Hippodrome stage in several productions including ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Sweet Charity’. She attended rehearsals of several other plays and shows even when she was too ill to appear on stage. Her last stage performance was as Alice’s mother and the Punk with the dogless lead in the ‘Vicar of Dibley’ in 2015.

11 10 Josh and David’s Great Hospice Challenge

When Josh Hindle and David Smith decided to raise money for Pendleside Hospice they had no idea what they were letting themselves in for. They asked the people of Pendle to set 12 challenges, one for each month of the year, which would be drawn live on Facebook on New Years day.

David and Josh are both Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Committee members and Josh has been co-opted onto the Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre Committee. Josh has just Directed ELF and David worked as one of the backstage staff. Both Josh and David are regular cast members of Hippodrome Theatre Company shows and will be taking to the stage in March in ’The Pajama Game’ where Josh will play Sid Sorokin and David will take on the role of Joe. Josh will then go on to Direct the Theatre Company’s production of RENT in September. Not only are they very much involved in local Theatre, in real life Josh is a Wedding Singer and entertainer who recently won the Best Musical Act for Weddings in the North West and David is a Nurse in ICU at Burnley General Hospital.

BUT somehow they will fit all the12 challenges into their busy lives to benefit an amazing local charity, Pendleside Hospice.

The Challenges are:- January: Sleep for 1 night in Pendle Hippodrome. (The Theatre is reputedly haunted)

February: A 3 mile walk in flippers.

March: Bake 12 identical butterfly buns with pink butter-cream that are to be tried and tested by under 5 year olds.

April: Jailbreak! Get dropped off in the middle of nowhere with no money and no phones, just Pendleside Hospice buckets, and find their way home.

May: Take a children's ballet class LIVE at the Big Band Boogie 2017 at Burnley Mechanics (Saturday 20th May 2017).

June: Complete the 135km distance of Hadrian’s Wall by walking it in 3 days, accommodation by camping only and in a travelling time of 30 hours.

July: Josh to wear a Spider helmet and David to lie in a pen of Hamsters. (Spiders make Josh shudder and David feels the same about Hamsters)

August: Complete a Half Marathon carrying 10kg back packs.

September: 24 hour sing-a-thon in a local supermarket.

October: Halloween Special! Spend 24 hours in a haunted house with no lights.

November Eat Chilli made from the 10 hottest chillies in the world.

December: Entertain a childrens cancer ward by singing in fancy dress and providing Christmas Gifts for the Children.

All the challenges will be filmed and posted on Facebook and there will be regular updates in Footlight Forum. Anyone wanting to support Josh and David with their fundraising challenges for this excellent cause can donate by texting JHDS60 £5 or £10 to 70070 or visit their Just Giving page www..justgiving.com/fundraising/joshanddavidchallenge. Or just see Josh or David.

GOOD LUCK YOU TWO

It is with great sadness that we report the deaths of

We would like to express our sincere condolences to all their family and friends.