Paul Merton - Marlowe Theatre
Transcription
Paul Merton - Marlowe Theatre
FREE to m e The mbers of Mar Frie lowe nds The magazine of The Marlowe Friends Issue 3 Summer 2012 The Mousetrap World premiere to appear at The Marlowe as part of 60th-year celebrations Michael Law Founder of the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra on the music in his life Paul Merton TV funnyman talks about returning to stand up comedy for the first time this century Stage Door Tim Stubbings Porgy AND Bess eet the staff working M behind the scenes to ensure every visit is magical • P18 Our resident photographer on his fascination with the theatre and capturing that ‘Marlowe moment’ • P10 Cape Town Opera Company present a moving, heartfelt production • P26 Contents Welcome FREE to me The mbers of Ma Friendrlowe s The magazine of The Marlowe Friends ISSUE 3 Summer 2012 Welcome to the latest edition of Spotlight, the magazine designed and published exclusively for all Marlowe Friends! The Mousetrap World premiere to appear at The Marlowe as part of 60th-year celebrations Michael Law 4 News 8 Les Dennis The TV presenter speaks about his role in the musical Legally Blonde 10 Tim Stubbings The Marlowe’s resident photographer on his fascination with the theatre 12 The Mousetrap World premiere of Agatha Christie’s thriller to appear at The Marlowe as part of its 60th-year celebrations 15 The Marlowe Friends special events Exclusive talks, workshops and tours running throughout the year 16 Michael Law Founder of the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra on the music that has filled his colourful life 18 Stage Door Meet the staff working behind the scenes to ensure every visit is magical 20 Paul Merton TV funnyman talks about returning to stand-up comedy for the first time this century 21Laura Kimpton Columnist Laura Kimpton on the trials and tribulations of the theatre lover 22Discounts and events for The Marlowe Friends Plenty of savings to be made and events to be enjoyed across Kent for our members 24 The Ladykillers Kindred Rose on the unusual origins of his father’s screenplay 26 Porgy And Bess Cape Town Opera Company present a moving production Founder of the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra on the music in his life Paul Merton TV funnyman talks about returning to stand up comedy for the first time this century STAGE DOOR TIM STUBBINGS PORGY AND BESS Meet the staff working behind the scenes to ensure every visit is magical • P18 Our resident photographer on his fascination with the theatre and capturing that ‘Marlowe moment’ • P10 Cape Town Opera Company present heartfelt, moving production • P26 Spotlight Issue 3 Summer 2012 COntact us We welcome all comments, questions and submissions. Write to us at our address below, or email [email protected] Contributors Laura Kimpton Dawn Kingsford Sarah Munday Mia Power Editor Sarah Munday Design Cog Design Photography Tim Stubbings timstubbings.co.uk ISSN 2046-4703 (print) ISSN 2046-4711 (online) The Marlowe Theatre The Friars, Canterbury Kent CT1 2AS Follow us on Twitter @marlowetheatre marlowetheatre.com I am looking forward in 2012 to a programme full of variety and, I hope, appeal to all our Friends. Thank you for your support for the new Marlowe over what were equally difficult and exciting opening few months. During the closure period we took the opportunity to consult with colleagues in other theatres that had been through a major rebuild or refurbishment and we found their comments and advice very helpful. However, no one told us quite how challenging it is to cope with the “snagging” and “defects” that (we now know) inevitably accompany the opening of a large and complex building like a theatre, at the same time as actually running it! Many of you have been very patient with us about the various teething issues that may have affected your enjoyment of our new theatre. Many Friends have also been very helpful through letting us have comments on the new building – warts and all! Again, thank you. It is very useful to have people’s views, and we have been able to act on many of the suggestions. With our first pantomime now successfully behind us (more people came to see Cinderella than any other pantomime in Canterbury) I am looking forward in 2012 to a programme full of variety and, I hope, appeal to all our Friends. We all look forward to welcoming you to The Marlowe again very soon. Page 10 2 Spotlight Summer 2012 Page 12 Page 26 Mark Everett Theatre director Summer 2012 Spotlight 3 3 Dirty Dancing Musical It may be a year away, but Dirty Dancing is proving to be one of the hottest tickets in town! Coming to The Marlowe Theatre for three weeks from 2 April 2013, the musical has been breaking box office records wherever it goes – more than five million people have seen it worldwide with the London show alone playing to more than one million. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage features all the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film. There’s also some new choreography as well as the familiar dance sequences, and new songs alongside the original soundtrack, which featured Do You Love Me?, Hungry Eyes and (I’ve Had) the Time of My Life. The producers are delighted The Marlowe Theatre is included in this extension to the first national tour: “It has been wonderful to see audiences across the country embracing the show with the same passion and support that it received in the West End. As Dirty Dancing enters another exciting new stage in its UK journey, it shows no sign of slowing down.” Tributes to James Hyde OBE and David Lee MBE Obituaries FOUNDER President of The Marlowe Friends James Hyde died late last year, aged 93. Passionate about theatre, and The Marlowe in particular, James was instrumental in setting up The Marlowe Friends in 1992 and, with his beloved wife Rosa, was seen regularly at productions and at every major Friends event until his retirement in 2008. Friends Chairman June Brewer recalled one fundraising event he was especially keen to be involved in: “We put on a fashion show back in 1996 and James elegantly walked the catwalk impeccable dressed, as always, with a glamorous lady proudly on each arm! He was truly the quintessential gentleman and his charming manner endeared him to all.” June said there were many occasions when she turned to James for advice and his wise counsel never failed her. James, of Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, handed over the presidential reins to David Flood in July 2008 but he never lost his interest in The Marlowe and The Marlowe Friends. 4 Spotlight Summer 2012 Dave Lee was many things to many people: family man, charity worker, musician, comedian, pantomime performer – and Patron of The Marlowe Friends. Over the years, Dave, who died in January aged 64, supported The Marlowe Friends on many occasions. Chairman June Brewer said: “He was a stalwart, always there when needed and more than happy to help. “Dave really was a giant of a man in every sense and it is hard to imagine that we shall never hear his quick wit or see his smiling face again. But, as one of the pantomime stars said to me, there will be a lot of laughter in heaven!” Above Dave is pictured with TV presenter and pantomime performer Stephen Mulhern and Marlowe Theatre Director Mark Everett in December. To commemorate his 1000th performance at the theatre in January 2009, Dave was presented with a dressing room door plaque. He safely kept the plaque during our redevelopment and vowed to put it back on his door when the building opened. Thankfully, he was able to do so. Muffin, the dog comedy club Name a Seat the marlowe comedy club Who would have thought that mongrel Muffin would turn out to be a show dog? While big-time comedians continue to sell out the main house weeks in advance, up-andcoming stars continue to pack ‘em in at the monthly Marlowe Comedy Cabarets. Held in The Marlowe Studio, they are organised by Ben Travis, who reckons comedy is the new Rock ‘n’ Roll: “You think of the huge arena tours, top comedians sell out, night after night, and think back to where they started. The Marlowe Comedy Cabaret gives our audiences the chance to see the stars of tomorrow. Comedian Tom Deacon has appeared with us – you’ll start seeing him on TV, and sketch group Jigsaw are doing a pilot for BBC 3.” Along with stand-up comedians and sketch groups, music is now a popular addition to these quirky evenings. An added bonus is the cabaret menu on offer, brought to your table along with your drinks. Not his owner Jane Hargraves, that’s for sure. Jane, who lives in Bredgar, near Sittingbourne, with husband Bill, has been a Marlowe Friend for years. And some Friend – without fail, she distributes our brochure in her parish and is a keen theatre-goer. When Jane heard about the scheme to name a seat in the new Marlowe Theatre, she jumped at the chance: “I have been associated with The Marlowe for so long, I just wanted to do something.” But rather than see her own name on a plaque on the back of a seat, she opted to “name” it in honour of her dog, Muffin. Jane said: “I’ve always had dogs and they’ve always been dachshunds, but Muffin is the nicest one I’ve owned, he’s an absolute character and I just thought it would be a lovely thing to do for him.” More than 260 people have so far named a seat in the auditorium. Anyone else wishing to do so – for their dog, themselves, their family or friends, can now pay £25 a month, spread over 20 months (making a total of £500). For details, call 01227 456448. *In reality, we do not allow any dogs other than assistance dogs into the auditorium. in numbers Wine and wisdom Marlowe Friends have always enjoyed pitting their wits over a Pinot at wine and wisdom evenings. These are held at the Chaucer Club, Canterbury, and the next are on Monday 16 April and Monday 21 May (7pm to 7.30pm start). There are only 13 tables at each one so organiser Sandra Hooper advises to book early – and also not to worry if you can’t make up a table of six. “Let me know how many players you have and I can fit you on with other Friends if you are willing to play with people you may not know – yet!” Tables cost £7 each, which includes two bottles of wine (per table), nibbles and a finger buffet. To book, call Sandra on 01304 611470 or email [email protected]. 24,230 Since the first one in December 1993, there have been 103 Marlowe Friends concerts, which have been seen by 24,230 people and raised £123,000. Chairman June Brewer’s idea for a one-off which might raise £500 (but which actually made almost £3,500), has now blossomed into a major fundraiser. Friends 2012 concert dates – page 23. Summer 2012 Spotlight 5 The Marlowe Young Musician of the year classical Sleeping Beauty Pantomime producers Emily Wood and Paul Hendy have two Sleeping Beauties on their hands. Little Jago was born in February and along with Freddie (six) and Poppy (two), completes the Hendy household. The baby is a good sleeper (most of the time!) but there’s no rest for the couple as work goes on for the seven pantomimes they are responsible for this year. Following on from the success of Cinderella – which was watched by a record-breaking 83,000-plus people – this year’s show is Sleeping Beauty. And although it’s months away, auditions, photoshoots, press briefings, print design, production meetings, set and costume design, and scriptwriting, all have to be achieved before the start of rehearsals. Paul said: “It sounds exhausting – and sometimes it is – but the work is nicely spread out over the year and most importantly, Emily and I work well together and have great support. I tend to do the more creative things while Emily concentrates on the business side – and of course, we fit everything in around the family!” workshops everyone is together and we’ve got some 20 year olds, through to retired people. Anyone can act and here everyone gets a go. One of our group is shy and reserved and had never set foot on the stage but at the end of the first course was performing scenes from Sex And The City in The Studio in front of her friends and family!” Anyone Can Act starts again this month (April), for 12 weeks. There are also TV acting, auditioning and casting workshops to come, as well a variety of one-day workshops. Check out our website (marlowetheatre.com) for details. Carrie Bradshaw and friends, watch out! The characters from the popular TV series (and spin-off films) Sex And The City are being brought to life in Canterbury every week by some unlikely usurpers. Gary Barber’s Anyone Can Act workshops in The Marlowe Studio are, like many of the other workshops on offer, proving a huge success. Former actor turned teacher Gary said: “The course is open to adults of any age and any ability. Often acting courses are for young people only – here 6 Spotlight Summer 2012 A broken bow didn’t deter violinist Ana Vandepeer from giving the performance of her (short) lifetime and taking the title of The Marlowe Young Musician Of The Year. Luckily, the mishap happened before the 16-yearold took to the stage and she was able to borrow a bow from The Kent Concert Orchestra. The drama wasn’t over though – it was a close-fought contest and the St Edmund’s School sixthformer, who has been playing violin and piano since she was four, won by just one mark. Ana said: “I was nervous but once I was performing, I just forgot everything. I enjoyed the evening so much, especially being on stage with a professional orchestra. That was enough, but to win was amazing.” As for the future, Ana is looking to continue her music studies at a conservatoire or university and then to go on to be in a well-known string quartet playing around the world. Winning this event, which was supported by The Marlowe Friends, can only have helped her on her way. a helping hand accessibility As regular theatre-goers, you will have noticed that for most shows of a week or longer, we hold an audio-described performance. This involves a live commentary in between the words and songs on stage, for our blind and partially-sighted customers. While it’s fairly obvious when one is taking place (the headsets give it away!), an equally important part of the service is a touch tour. This happens an hour or so before curtainup and the audio describer and company manager will take the customers on stage to get a sense of proportion and be told about the scenery, props and costumes. Meeting cast members is a bonus! As audio describer Denise Smith puts it: “A touch tour helps set the scene – touching, not seeing, is believing in this case.” Pat Marshall, who is blind and a Marlowe regular, said: “As well as the touch tour, there is the actual audio-described commentary through the headset which fills in the gaps in the dialogue with descriptions of action, expressions and scenery, thereby affording me complete continuity and I am consequently able to enjoy a production to the maximum.” Riverside MENU food & Drink A new season sees new tastes at The Riverside Restaurant. A spring/early summer menu is now available. And with the warmer weather, you can enjoy the new dishes on the terrace, overlooking the River Stour. Head Chef Andy Milne has been busy sourcing local seasonal produce and with his team, is May Liddiard, another regular who is registered blind but who has some useful sight, said an audio-described performance enriches her outing and allows her to keep a track of the characters. She added: “It is especially good for the important things I would otherwise miss, such as a prop being handed over... is it a knife, a gun or a packet of crisps?” using it to offer the highest quality food at a good price. Marlowe Friends can now get 15 per cent off food and hot drinks (excluding the pre-show menu). Platinum Friends get 20 per cent off. Another new offer is one child eats free with one paying adult on children’s show days. Andy has also been busy being a new dad: he has become a bit of a hero at The Marlowe by delivering Rex, his first baby, at home by himself earlier this year! in numbers 12,000 There are now more than 12,000 Marlowe Friends, which is an increase of 7,000 in the last two years. Friends are looked after by Amelia Power – you can contact her on 01227 862309 or mia. [email protected] Summer 2012 Spotlight 7 Legally Blonde The Musical is promising to put the colour into summer when it comes to The Marlowe in June. Dawn Kingsford caught up with comedy cast member Les Dennis to ask him about his latest role. 8 Spotlight Summer 2012 found the perfect part. He reveals: “I don’t usually play someone so mean and calculating. So I’m loving the challenge.” “Rehearsals were hectic, as Ray and I joined an established show, which meant there were just the two of us with our director, Dom Shaw. On opening night for us in Aylesbury, the following week, it was sink or swim. I’m just glad to say we both swam and have since discarded our armbands. “My wife Claire, who was in the audience and is my biggest critic, says she couldn’t tell it was our first night. I can’t ask for more than that.” While not his first musical (Les has appeared in Hairspray, Me and My Girl and Chicago), the part comes with its own unique demands… not least, a 10-minute warm-up skipping session, nights when he can’t get the songs out of his head and a ‘baptism of fire’, every night, with his first song! “The most daunting thing,” says Les, “is getting used to the fact that my first entrance is my big number. “Usually you have a couple of acts before you sing, but Blood in the Water is Callahan’s establishing scene. It also has a big finish that you have to nail.” So, how does he unwind? “I’m working on a one-man play called Jigsy for the Edinburgh Festival in August and, of course, being dad to two little ones – that takes my mind off the show. Even so, while I’m not losing sleep over it just yet, I still can’t Photo: Paul Rider ‘A woman scorned’ makes for an award-winning show this summer when the hot West End hit Legally Blonde The Musical comes to The Marlowe Theatre. Based on the hit movie, starring Reese Witherspoon, it charts the hilarious antics of the lovely, if lightweight, college sweetheart Elle Woods (Faye Brookes) as she joins Harvard Law school to win back her boyfriend Warner (Ray Quinn) after being unceremoniously dumped. A moralistic romantic musical, featuring 18 magical musical numbers, 19 costume changes and a colourful cast, including two dogs… what else could score so high in the popularity stakes? According to comedian Les Dennis, who will be in the cast when it visits Canterbury, “It’s a feel-good tale that is touching, funny and inspiring. It’s like Hairspray: A great night out, and not just for girls. “It’s always fun to see the guys who have been dragged by their partners to watch it, jumping to their feet at the end.” The Liverpudlian joined the tour with Ray Quinn (Brookside/ X Factor/Dancing on Ice) in January and is having a ball playing the ‘bad guy’, for once, as the mean, cut-throat lawyer Professor Callahan. Indeed, the 58-year-old TV presenter, whose difficult personal life led him to announce he was done with ‘playing the victim’, may well have Photo: Johan Persson This much fun can’t be legal! Top: Faye Brookes and cast Above: Les Dennis get the songs out of my head and often wake up singing them!” Fortunately, he’s in good company, with leading lady Faye Brookes (Grease) – billed as one of the brightest West End heroines – performing 16 of the show’s 18 numbers as part of the drama that’s skilfully directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray). So has Legally Blonde The Musical got Les thinking about more serious musical roles? He smiled: “Nothing like Phantom of the Opera! I’m too old and it’s too high. Maybe Thenardier in Les Mis, Nathan Detroit in Guys And Dolls… and I’d love to have a crack at Fagin!” Legally Blonde The Musical is set to take Marlowe audiences from the social whirl of California Campus life to Harvard’s Halls of Justice from Tue 5 to Sat 16 June. It’s a feel-good tale that is touching, funny and inspiring. It’s like Hairspray: A great night out, and not just for girls. Summer 2012 Spotlight 9 It’s been a pleasure working alongside the heart of the theatre – the various teams and unsung heroes that keep it all going. top row: Tim took these pictures at our three test performances, Rubber Biscuit, Sensational Sixties and Back to Basie The Marlowe’s favourite photographer Tim Stubbings reveals all – focusing on his fascination with the theatre from its regeneration to the present day. FuLl exposure S ome six months after opening, writes Spotlight Editor Sarah Munday, memories surrounding that momentous and hugely emotional time for all at The Marlowe Theatre, have gradually started to fade. But the work of photographer Tim Stubbings ensures there is a lasting legacy. You’ll have seen his pictures – many have been in Spotlight (including this edition), in the press and on our website. Included on these pages are a small selection of the many photos that weren’t used but which were just crying out to be seen. Apart from being great images, they perfectly capture that Marlowe moment! We have all enjoyed working with Tim, and here’s what he thinks: “Being a photographer means that you get 10 Spotlight Summer 2012 your natural sense of curiosity and nosiness satisfied on a regular basis. You get to see things that others don’t, and one project that has stood out for me in this respect has been the new Marlowe Theatre. From the surreal views of the demolition (seeing real blue skies and clouds alongside the fake ones on the old theatre walls) to a concrete jungle of foundations and hard steel that took shape – in all weathers – and which rose above the rooftops into a stunning building. “But it’s not just been about architecture. It’s been the pleasure of working alongside the heart of the theatre – the various teams and unsung heroes that keep it all going. It’s been a great opportunity to build relationships with such an important part of our region’s cultural life.” middle row: The Marlowe Theatre’s opening gala on Tuesday 4 October 2011 was attended by HRH The Earl of Wessex, with music by The Philharmonia Orchestra Bottom Row: My Marlowe Opening Weekend was three days of street arts, live music, dance, workshops and theatre performances. It also gave people the chance to look round for the first time Summer 2012 Spotlight 11 The Marlowe will make theatrical history when it stages the world premiere of The Mousetrap tour in September. Dawn Kingsford turned detective to find out what continues to make this the world’s most-loved and longest-running production. Classic Christie with all OF the trappings! 12 Spotlight Summer 2012 A snow storm, in September, in Canterbury? It can only mean one thing… The Mousetrap is coming to The Marlowe! Holed up in the West End for 60 years, the epic blizzard-based Agatha Christie thriller ventures on to fresh snow for its first UK tour this autumn – with the much-sought-after world premiere in Canterbury. “It’s the news audiences have been waiting to hear,” Theatre Director Mark Everett enthuses, “and we’re delighted to be staging this must-see, magical murder mystery here at The Marlowe for its first ever UK tour outside of the capital since 1952.” An all-star line-up has been promised for the 60-week road-trip by the Producer of the West End’s longestrunning show, Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, who has taken the historic decision to mark The Mousetrap’s Diamond Jubilee this year by taking it on tour under the direction of Angus Jackson. He said: “Having such an extraordinary, unprecedented, and historic event as a 60th anniversary made this a great occasion to broaden the play’s audience throughout the UK and I hope local theatre-goers will welcome the chance to see it without the need to make a special trip to London.” Theatre-supporters in Canterbury have even more to celebrate, with Sir Stephen describing The Marlowe as the perfect place for the premiere, adding: “We have all been impressed by the quality of the new theatre and the interest shown by audiences in seeing good shows. I have not yet visited, but all I hear about it, and from the photographs I have seen, suggest what a good venue it will be to launch this special tour.” In spite of the monumental move, Sir Stephen is at pains to point out that there are no plans to end the production’s record-breaking run in London, with performances continuing in the capital in tandem with the tour. However, he admits, coming up with a second series of showings has not been without its problems. A new line-up of actors and under-studies will be taking to the casting couch and a brand new backdrop, costumes and props have had to be commissioned – all of which will be seen first by audiences at The Marlowe. Already arousing interest (the last major change to the production’s West End set was 12 years ago), Sir Stephen would only reveal: “The detail of the new set for the tour is not yet finalised, but I expect it to be rather similar to that in London, remaining true to what Agatha Christie wrote and required.” And as far as the production’s new leading men and women (each will tour for 12 weeks), he adds: “We will be looking to cast stars, well known for their previous work, able to do justice to this fine play.” Few will need reminding of The Mousetrap’s classic storyline, penned by the world’s most famous crime writer, which has outlived the Cold War, seen the Queen’s coronation and survived 12 British Prime Ministers. The detective Above: Lottie Latham as Miss Casewell Left: The current cast of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap Now you have seen The Mousetrap you are our partners in crime, and we ask you to preserve the tradition by keeping the secret of whodunit locked in your hearts. Summer 2012 Spotlight 13 tale, set in the 1950s, finds eight strangers stranded with a murderer in a snow storm at the isolated guest house of Monkswell Manor. Only a light dusting of clues and a skiing detective are provided to steer audiences and cast through the deep snow of suspicion to solve this notorious twisting tale and determine whodunit? As famous as the script itself, are Christie’s efforts to cover the tracks of the killer for future audiences and for many, the story would not be complete without its now-famous curtain speech. But there’s no need to worry, promises Sir Stephen: “We are not planning to make any script changes and the traditional curtain speech will definitely be included throughout the tour, which runs through 2013 and into 2014.” So, super-sleuths prepare to be captivated, caught-up in the drama, and to share one of theatre-land’s most closely-guarded secrets when The Mousetrap opens at The Marlowe on 11 September. Sixtieth celebrations To mark its 60th year, Mousetrap Productions has also licensed 60 professional companies to perform The Mousetrap world-wide. In this unprecedented move, the show will be seen in every continent, with shows scheduled for Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United States, Venezuela. Be a celebrity super-sleuth Those buying tickets for the tour at The Marlowe will be in good company – joining royalty, film stars and celebrities to swell The Mousetrap’s total audience to more than 10 million. Few would have expected that the play, which has never been published, or turned into a movie or TV programme, would intrigue so many – becoming as much of a must-see for visitors to the capital as Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. Indeed, as Richard Attenborough, who took the lead when it opened in 1952, said: “It’s like a London institution – like the ravens in the Tower.” However, its popularity continued to bemuse its author, who expected it to run for only a few months. In a rare interview, Agatha Christie said: “It’s 14 Spotlight Summer 2012 not really frightening. It’s not really horrible. It’s not really a farce. But it has a little of all these things and perhaps that satisfies a lot of people.” How little she knew. Guests have munched their way through more than 500 tons of icecream since opening night, with VIPs including Her Majesty the Queen – who also celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this year – the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen Mum, who saw it on the eve of her 79th birthday. Sir Winston and Lady Churchill also joined the audience in 1957 and Prime Minister John Major waxed lyrical about the world-famous production at The Mousetrap’s 40th anniversary party on 25 November, 1992. Recent visitors have also included film director Quentin Tarantino and Madness singer Suggs. Above Sir Winston and Lady Churchill met The Mousetrap’s cast after slipping in to a showing in 1957 The Marlowe Friends enjoy a range of exclusive events throughout the year. Mousetrap Morsels • The play began life as a short radio play called Three Blind Mice, broadcast on 30 May 1947. • The play opened at The Ambassadors Theatre in 1952 and played there for 21 years before moving next door to St Martin’s Theatre. • The show entered its 60th year in the West End with its 24,587th performance. • 403 actors and 235 understudies have appeared in the West End play. • The voice of one original cast member, the late Deryck Guyler, can still be heard reading the radio news bulletin in the play. • Only the mantelpiece clock remains from the original 1952 West End set. The leather armchair was retired in 2004 after 52 years. • Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and died on 12 January, 1976, aged 85. The Queen of Crime sold more than two billion books and had three plays running at the same time in the West End, a feat never matched by any other woman. She became a Dame of the British Empire in 1971. Above: The unforgettable Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim in the original 1952 production The Marlowe Friends Special Events Family Friends Events Workshops, talks and tours for the young children in your life. Sat 26 may 2pm & 3.30pm Peppa Pig Puppet Workshops (3-6 years) Fri 24 Aug 2.30pm The Gruffalo Post-Show Party (3–6 years) Fri 28 Dec 5pm Sleeping Beauty Talk & Tour (8-16 years) Artist Talkback Pre-show talks with members of the cast and company giving you the chance to ask questions and hear about life backstage. Thu 19 Apr 6pm Avenue Q Thu 28 Jun 6pm Porgy And Bess Thu 9 aug 6pm Dreamboats And Petticoats Thu 4 oct 6pm Haunting Julia Thu 8 Nov 6pm Beauty & The Beast Good Companions Panto meet the cast Meet other Marlowe Friends for a cup of coffee and enjoy a talk by one of the company before the matinee. Come and meet the cast of Sleeping Beauty, have your photo taken with the stars and get your programme signed! Sat 12 May 11.30am Midnight Tango Wed 2 Jan 2013 4.45pm Sleeping Beauty Sat 9 Jun 11.30am Legally Blonde Sat 4 aug 11.30am Dreamboats And Petticoats Sat 15 Sep 11.30am The Mousetrap Summer 2012 Spotlight 15 Marlowe Friend Michael Law has much to smile about, having composed an enviable career for himself from the music he loves. Dawn Kingsford went along to meet up with the band-leading pianist and singer. Michael Law G etting Margaret Thatcher on the dance floor, now that’s a boast, but then mild-mannered music man Michael Law is full of surprises. Well-known to Marlowe Friends, I met the founder of the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra at home in Canterbury, surrounded (as one might expect) by music books, a stack of 78rpm records and a much-loved radiogram. It was to this he turned to set the tone for our interview, with the music that has filled his colourful life. Born the youngest of three, he grew up in Nairobi where his father – Sir Eric Law – was a judge for the Colonial Service. It was in Kenya, recalls Michael (51),where his love for music flourished after receiving a wind-up gramophone and the 78s from his dad. “My father played piano and my mother loved to sing, so the house was always full of music. The sophisticated swinging music of the 1920s to 1940s was a family favourite and I grew up listening to the great songs of Cole Porter et al, and from this my passion grew.” Educated in England, he learned piano from the age of nine, eventually attending King’s School, in Canterbury (where he ran and composed numbers for the school’s jazz band), before moving on to Cambridge, then the Royal College of Music, where he studied opera. Student days, according to Michael, were a heady mix of singing lessons and master classes, playing the piano in bars to make ends meet, and 16 Spotlight Summer 2012 operatic performances (including one for the Queen and Prince Charles). But, by 1988, he admits, he was ready to turn his back on opera for good. “It was a gamble,” says Michael. “No one gives you a career in 20s and 30s popular music, you have to invent it yourself and that’s why I founded The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra. “We aim to revive the true Big Band Sound with sensitivity, lovingly dusting off timeless recordings to recreate their original sparkle – and this has been the secret of our success.” Success, indeed, with six albums recorded, and highlights including residencies at The Savoy and The Ritz and performances for radio and TV, Proms in the Park and at Earl Spencer’s 30th birthday party, when Princess Diana danced and listened to the band until three in the morning. And that “Maggie Moment”? “Yes, it was in 1991” says Michael, “I’ll never forget it. We were playing at John Paul Getty’s party when suddenly Margaret Thatcher took to the floor. She was a really elegant dancer and we kept her on her feet all night.” Fond memories, according to Michael, but he confesses he’s never happier than when he’s performing in the city he returned to last year and has always called home. My father played piano and my mother loved to sing, so the house was always full of music. Michael will be putting the zing into swing with his hilarious anecdotes alongside The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra in You’re The Top at The Marlowe Theatre concert on Thu 26 April. Tickets are on sale now. Summer 2012 Spotlight 17 We go behind the scenes and meet three of the unsung heroes who ensure every visit to The Marlowe is magical. Stage door T heir faces are seen by hundreds but for thousands, they are hidden from view. The Marlowe Theatre’s Stage Door and its three keepers are, as one has described it, the oil that operates the cogs. Josie Kay Merry, Natalie Reuter and Will Millar are an entertaining, cheery bunch – and they have to be. With early starts and late finishes, seven days a week, they ensure that the general dayto-day running of the backstage side of the theatre runs smoothly. It’s not just about welcoming the performers though, as Josie (29) explains: “We oversee the general security of the building ensuring that everyone is authorised and accounted for when venturing into public and non-public areas. “We watch over the fire alarm systems, intruder alarms and the building management system, which allow the theatre to operate its own climate. Also, we are trained to deal with any emergency that comes our way, from first aid to fire evacuations, from lost property to maintenance.” 18 Spotlight Summer 2012 Of course, Stage Door is a central port of call for performers, other visitors and staff. Josie again: “I’d like to think that we offer a little piece of home for anyone who should need us. We try to venture beyond our call of duty in times of need and offer a kind of pastoral care – a smile and a hug goes a long way when you are homesick, as some actors are.” Stage Door is also the focal point for fans, as witnessed during the pantomime. Josie, Natalie and Will are happy to receive letters, cards and flowers for performers, but also have to keep things under control. Natalie (23) recalls: “Dealing with fans can lead to some funny moments. There was one lady who kept asking everyone coming out of Stage Door if Stephen Mulhern was still in the theatre. Then when he came out, she didn’t recognise him and asked him if he could go and get Buttons!” And when a show runs for as long as pantomime does and everyone gets to know the cast and company, it can be difficult to say goodbye. Above left: Assistant Stage Door Keeper Natalie Reuter Above right: Assistant Stage Door Keeper Will Millar Opposite page: Stage Door Keeper Josie Kay Merry It’s great meeting new people who love theatre as much as I do and making new friends, but saying goodbye when they pack up and move on is hard. Will (25) says: “It’s great meeting new people who love theatre as much as I do and making new friends, but saying goodbye when they pack up and move on is hard.” Will’s not alone in his passion for theatre: Josie and Natalie feel the same (as do all Marlowe staff). All three also have experience of it. Josie, who lives in Dover, debuted at the age of three as the Ugly Duckling in a ballet at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone. When she was later told she was the “wrong size” to fulfil her dream of becoming a professional dancer, she got into swimming, and, by the age of 14 was representing Kent and England. Josie eventually returned to her first love of dance, but also discovered theatre and studied both at school. In 2005 she founded Black Fish Touring Company before going to Anglia Ruskin in Cambridge, graduating, in 2010, in film and drama (and a spell as captain of the women’s rugby team). As well as writing and directing independent films while studying, Josie went to work for the Cambridge Corn Exchange, starting out Front of House and then moving backstage before becoming Assistant General Manager. When the job at The Marlowe came up, it was a chance for Josie to move back to her home town and fulfil a long-held ambition of working at the theatre. She is now involved with Dover Operatic and Dramatic Society, intends to work with Black Fish again – and has appeared in a locally made zombie film! Natalie, who lives in Herne Bay, grew up in Southampton and was an active member of Nuffield Youth Theatre. She studied English literature and film at the University of Kent and The Marlowe is her first job in theatre. Will also started young and has been associated with theatre in one guise or another since the age of 11. His first job was a stage hand and he’s gone on to design and run lighting and sound, be Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Musical Director and Assistant Director. He also acts, sings, dances and writes, and spends much of his free time composing, doing table magic and hypnosis, and auditioning. And Will’s favourite part of the job? Decorating Stage Door for Christmas! As Josie, says, a little piece of home. Summer 2012 Spotlight 19 I t’s been a while, but we’re all delighted to see him back. Paul Merton is returning to stand up for the first time this century. One of the best loved comedians in the country, Paul is taking Out of My Head – his first new written show since 1998 – on a 50-date tour, which comes to The Marlowe Theatre on 24 April. The new show will give us an unprecedented insight into the wondrous workings of Paul’s mind. Coming out from behind the Have I Got News For You desk, where he has been sitting for the past 22 years, the comedian will also prove that he has actually got legs! In Out of My Head, we can look forward to a hugely entertaining evening of stand-up, interspersed with sketches, music, magic, variety and dancing girls. Paul, who has been at the top of his game for more than two decades now and is one of the world’s great improvisers, is bubbling with enthusiasm about hitting the road once again with a stand-up show. “We’re having such a great time,” beams the comedian, who has also enjoyed a highly successful second career as a travel documentary presenter on such memorable series as Paul Merton in China and Paul Merton’s Adventures. “It’s about taking the plunge and devising a show that is fully scripted. It has stand up, sketches, interaction with the audience, and a few things that will startle people. Working on a tour that starts off as a mere jotting on the back of a fag packet and develops into a spectacular show is a sheer joy!” Having been a key member of the country’s most famous improvisational troupe, The Comedy Store Players, since its formation in 1985, Paul is a wonderfully charismatic performer. He particularly relishes his connection with the audience. “I get such a buzz from performing live,” confirms the comedian, who has also displayed his love for early cinema in TV documentaries such as The Birth of Hollywood and Silent Clowns. “It’s just the best rush in the world, better than anything else you can think of! If you’re trying to convince a TV producer that something is funny, it can take ages. But if you have a good idea with The Comedy Store Players, you can just say it there and then and you immediately know whether it’s funny because you’ll hear the sound of laughter – or not!” Paul, who for many years presented the highly successful BBC2 comedy show, Room 101, continues: “It’s so inspiring. You just ride the wave of laughter, and then you might come up with something equally funny. Ralph Richardson used to talk about pushing a huge ball up a hill to the point where it suddenly gains momentum and starts rolling down the other side. That’s what live comedy is like. The only snag is, you have to do it while trying to look completely relaxed!” IN THE SPOTLIGHT Paul Merton Stepping into the Spotlight for this edition is funnyman Paul Merton. 20 Spotlight Summer 2012 Working on a tour that starts off as a mere jotting on the back of a fag packet and develops into a spectacular show is a sheer joy! Laura Kimpton The show must go on! N ow, as every sane person knows, lazy Sundays are best observed from the safety and comfort of the sofa, preferably in the company of those most comforting of British institutions – a cup of tea and a costume drama. However, a recent Sunday saw me throwing myself at the mercy of public transport because there was a theatre ticket with my name on it. More specifically, a ticket to see a soon-to-be closing production at the Menier Chocolate Factory (which is one of my favourite venues – after The Marlowe of course)! Happily, despite the inevitable transport difficulties, I did get to London successfully and the show was more than worth the trek. No doubt my story strikes a chord with many of you, and I’m sure will pale in comparison to those some of you have about the lengths you have gone to see a particular production. However, the passion of theatre-goers, and even that of Marlowe Friends, does not come close to that of the actors, musicians, stage crews and theatre staff who keep a huge variety of shows running across the country on a day-to-day basis. When you think of all the elements involved in a production, particularly a largescale one, that’s no mean feat. And yet, things rarely go wrong and when they do, they are usually quickly and efficiently resolved and somehow, rather than breaking the magical spell that theatre casts, seem to heighten the experience, reminding us that nine-tenths of the beauty of live theatre is its unpredictability – the feeling that anything can happen and that no two performances will ever be identical. I will never forget being in the audience at War Horse when the Company Manager walked onto the stage to deliver the news that one of the horses involved in the production had been “injured” and would have to be attended to before the show could continue. There was a collective intake of breath as adults and children alike crossed their fingers in hope that the horse (for at this point When you think of all the elements involved in a production, particularly a large-scale one, that’s no mean feat. we were well past thinking of the equine characters as anything other than flesh and blood) would recover. The interval chatter recommenced, but more quietly, and eventually the Company Manager stepped back out onstage. He looked serious; was it bad news we all wondered? As he announced that the horse was cured, the audience broke out into spontaneous cheers, many rising to their feet, unconsciously adding another magical moment to an already fantastic theatre experience. As a member of a couple of local musical theatre groups I’ve experienced my fair share of “the show must go on” moments as a performer, from performing on a set which had to be given a wide berth as the paint wasn’t dry in time for opening night, to opening the door at the top of a tower to reveal an absent staircase and a rather large drop! These moments have further convinced me that those in the business of creating the fantastic productions we all enjoy should truly feel our support. How you choose to express this is a personal matter of course, but I think we should feel proud that collectively we have gone a long way towards doing so by supporting the creation of a theatre which both performers and productions who visit Canterbury can be proud to call home. Laura Kimpton: Marlowe Friend and avid theatre-goer at all times. Summer 2012 Spotlight 21 Discounts for the Marlowe Friends A Simmonds Jewellers 5% discount on all purchases 27 St Margaret’s Street Canterbury CT1 2TG 01227 769842 Build-A-Bear £3 discount on purchases of £15 or more (ask a member of our team for terms and conditions) Whitefriars, 7 Gravel Walk Canterbury CT1 2TF 01227 769295 www.buildabear.co.uk Butterflies Tea Room 10% discount on total spend Stone Street, Petham CT4 5PW 01227 709719 www.butterfliestearooms.co.uk Canterbury Camera Centre 10% discount on developing and printing (excl. digital) Unit 4, St Georges Centre Canterbury CT1 1UL 01227 763905 www.cant-cameras.demon.co.uk Canterbury Cathedral 2 for 1 on entrance and guided tours The Precincts Canterbury CT1 2EH 01227 762862 www.canterbury-cathedral.org Canterbury Tales Special discount ticket £5 per head on presentation of this voucher, valid until 31 December 2011 St Margaret’s Street Canterbury CT1 2TG 01227 479227 (info line) www.canterburytales.org.uk 22 Spotlight Summer 2012 Cathedral Shop Kent Ballooning Pastry Patisserie 10% discount (excl. online sales) 25 Burgate Canterbury CT1 2HA 01227 865300 www.cathedral-enterprises.co.uk 10% discount on all Flight Vouchers Yew Tree Studios Stanford North Ashford TN25 6DH 01303 812812 www.kentballooning.com 10% discount 2 Palace Street Canterbury CT1 2DY 01227 450146 Chives Cafe At The Horsebridge Longleys Private Hire Revivals 10% discount 42 St Peters Street Canterbury CT1 2BG 01227 768033 www.revivalscanterbury.co.uk 10% discount The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre Whitstable CT5 1AF 01227 281255 www.chivescaterers.co.uk 10% discount on local journeys (please state that you are a Marlowe Friend at the time of booking) 01227 710777 www.longleysprivatehire.co.uk Chromos Art Shop 5–10% discount on most holidays 259 Canterbury Road Herne Bay CT6 7HD 01227-363636 www.leospride.co.uk 15% discount on full price items (free hand massages and free makeovers. We also offer free group make-up lessons) 21a Marlowe Arcade Canterbury CT1 2TJ 01227 458889 www.rituals.com Loupe Gallery Snappy Snaps 10% discount on art and craft supplies (excl. special offers and publications) 77 Stour Street Canterbury CT1 2NR 01227 450836 www.chromosart.co.uk Crowthers Music 10% discount on music and CDs 1 The Borough Canterbury CT1 2DR 01227 763965 www.crowthersofcanterbury.co.uk Espression Paint Your Own Pottery Studio 10% discount on creatives 29 Palace Street Canterbury CT1 2DZ 01227 765665 [email protected] www.espression.co.uk Fudge Kitchen 10% discount 16 Sun Street Canterbury CT1 2HX 01227 479399 www.fudgekitchen.co.uk Funky Monks Clothing 10% discount 21 St Peters Street Canterbury CT1 2BQ 01227 781781 www.funkymonksclothing.co.uk Leo’s Pride 5% discount on all framed images 54 Harbour Street Whitstable CT5 1AQ 01227 636864 www.loupegallery.co.uk Madame Oiseau Fine Chocolates 10% discount on all chocolates (purchases over £10) 8 The Borough Canterbury, CT1 2DR 01227 452222 www.madame-oiseau.com [email protected] Marlowe’s Florist 5% discount on all flowers St Margaret’s Street Canterbury CT1 2TH 01227 463275 www.marloweflorist.com Ortwin Thyssen Jewellery Maker 30% discount on any valuations of jewellery carried out by a registered independent valuer 53 Palace St, The King’s Mile Canterbury CT1 2DY 01227 788200 [email protected] www.jewellery-maker.co.uk Rituals 10% discount on all prints and products 35 Rose Lane Canterbury CT1 2SJ 01227 456789 www.snappysnaps-canterbury.co.uk Team Buckley 10% discount on all treatments 2 Broad Oak Rd Canterbury CT2 7PW 01227 458430 www.teambuckley.co.uk The Dressing Room 10% discount on all purchases 74 Northgate Canterbury CT1 1BB 01227 454712 www.dressingroomshop.co.uk Tim Stubbings Photography Minimum 5% discount 01227 460604 [email protected] www.timstubbings.co.uk Whitstable Holiday Properties £20 discount on any holiday Hillcross Estates, 224 Tankerton Road Whitstable CT5 2AY 01227 273318 www.hillcrossestates.co.uk Wildwood Woodland Discovery NOTICEBOARD One child per family goes free (not available on Bank Holidays or in conjunction with any other offer) Wildwood Trust Herne Common Herne Bay CT6 7LQ 0871 7820081 www.wildwoodtrust.org 400 Club The 400 Club is our monthly draw, giving you the chance to win between £10 and £100. Costing only £1 a month to join, it also means you are helping to raise funds for our theatre. For an application form, please visit our website or phone The Marlowe Friends office on 01227 862309. The form is also on the back of the outings brochure. You can see a list of winners on our website (marlowetheatre.com) or, if you prefer, we can send you a printed copy. Wilkinsons Taxis 10% discount on all metered fares Unit 4 Dunkirk Industrial Park London Road Faversham ME13 9LG 01227 450450 www.wilkinsontaxisltd.com Woodlands Hair & Beauty Walking Treasure Hunt 15% discount on first treatment including pamper packages Wealden Forest Park Herne Common CT6 7LQ 01227 713371 www.woodlandshairandbeauty.co.uk There will be a Walking Treasure Hunt on a Sunday in August (date to be confirmed). Please call Sandra Hooper on 01304 611470 for details. The Marlowe Friends Events 2012 (all in The Marlowe Studio) You’re The Top The Railway Swing Band with Michael Law’s Piccadilly Dance Orchestra Wed 19 Sep Thu 26 Apr Jon Williams and Chris Price Opera Tottie Sun 24 Jun Bach To The Future Good Gnus! with David Flood, Sun 11 Nov A Christmas Carousel with with Carol Anne Wells Geoffrey Horton, James Kinsella and Jo Miller-Shepherd Sun 15 Jul Sun 16 DEC Reviews of our outings can be found on The Marlowe Friends page of the website marlowetheatre.com Summer 2012 Spotlight 23 W illiam (Bill) Rose was born in Missouri in 1918. He showed considerable artistic talent as a child, and by 1939 he was living in New York and doing a series of very odd jobs while trying to find work as an illustrator. After a turbulent and difficult time he was finally offered an extremely good position with the New York Times, but on the toss of a coin decided instead to forgo it and volunteer for World War Two. He joined the Canadian Black Watch and was stationed in England during the war. In 1943 he met Tania, his first wife, in London. They became engaged in four days and married the following year. After the war they went to live in Scotland for nine months on an extended honeymoon, and it was then that he began writing. Initially he wrote short stories and a stage play. His first produced work was The Quicksand Years (1946) – a radio play for the BBC. He made an early decision to specifically write screenplays, and his first good break came in late 1946 when he was given a traineeship at Pinewood Studios. His first writing credit was for Esther Waters (1947). This film was in production but floundering due to unresolvable problems in the script. Bill and the three other trainee screenwriters were asked to read it over a weekend and offer suggestions. He rewrote the entire film from scratch over the weekend and presented the studio with a new script on the Monday morning. They were immensely surprised, but liked it sufficiently to replace the shooting script with it. This caught the attention of Jack Lee who then commissioned him to write Once A Jolly Swagman (1948). Three other commissions followed, but his first original work came after two very difficult years in which he had had virtually no work and he and Tania had been fairly destitute. Genevieve (1953) changed their luck entirely and properly established his reputation. He was then offered a contract with Ealing and wrote four films for them, The Ladykillers (1955) being the best known. The Ladykillers began its life in the middle of the night sometime in the summer of 1954 when Bill and Tania were living in a tiny cottage in Hampstead. He woke her up and said that he had had a most peculiar dream in which five criminals were living in a little house with a charming old lady. He then proceeded to tell her the entire plot and essential concept of the film, then promptly fell back to sleep. Tania was so struck by the idea that she stayed awake the entire night, then asked him at breakfast if he remembered the dream and their conversation. He remembered nothing at all, and heard his idea for the first time, as it were, from her. Bill was reluctant to work with Alexander Mackendrick as their Top: Bill Rose Bottom: On set of The Ladykillers, Ealing 1955 Right: Bill Rose at typewriter previous collaboration on The Maggie (1953) had become very stormy. However he, and everyone at Ealing, became convinced that Alexander was the only director that could do the idea justice. This time the collaboration was far happier, and a lot of the work was done from home. One day Tania was asked to prepare lunch for an extra person but to leave the house herself – Bill and Alexander wanted to interview a convicted murderer who had killed a man while robbing a jewellers and spent years in the condemned cell before being reprieved. They wanted to know if he thought the essential plot was credible. According to Bill he sweated profusely as he thought about it, then said he thought that it was. After Ealing and a further difficult two years, Bill had a second career in Hollywood where he wrote five films the most well known being It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1962 – co-written with Tania), The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966) and Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967). He died in Jersey in 1987. Out of the 17 films he wrote, The Ladykillers is the only film to have been inspired by a dream. He talked about most of the other films for years or sometimes for over a decade before writing them. The Ladykillers went from the initial conception to being on the screen in less than a year making it by far the fastest idea of his to be realised. He usually wrote comedies, but The Ladykillers is his only black comedy, and while his other British and American films are generally very much of their era, often endearingly so, The Ladykillers stands out as being the most timeless film he wrote. He woke her up and said that he had had a most peculiar dream in which five criminals were living in a little house with a charming old lady. The Ladykillers will be playing at The Marlowe from Tue 25–Sat 29 September. Ladykillers The classic Ealing comedy The Ladykillers comes to The Marlowe this year fresh from its highly acclaimed run in the West End. Bill Rose wrote the original screenplay and here his son Kindred tells of its unusual origins. 24 Spotlight Summer 2012 Summer 2012 Spotlight 25 Porgy And Bess must surely be one of the highlights at The Marlowe Theatre this summertime. Here, John Allison, who was born and educated in Cape Town, takes a look at opera, Cape Town-style. porgy AND bess W ith a strong and predominantly black chorus as its backbone, Cape Town Opera Company (CTO) is well placed to perform Porgy And Bess and the subject matter has a strong resonance in modern South Africa, where life in the poorer communities is rife with violence, drugs, unemployment and continued class segregation. The production looks back at the period of apartheid’s highest arrogance, taking inspiration from township life in an era when gambling, drinking and street music were practically the only forms of entertainment open to people. Yet urban life in modern South Africa – full of Catfish Rowlike communities – is mirrored here too and the daily reality for many of the singers back home is more dangerous and fraught with difficulty than anything depicted on stage. As Michael Williams, CTO’s Managing Director, puts it: “When our cast sing Porgy And Bess, they sing from the heart because it means something to them.” 26 Spotlight Summer 2012 Unmistakably part of the “new” South Africa in terms of both its make-up and aspirations, CTO is a young company, founded in its present form only 13 years ago. However, its story started long before 1999 and the company has roots in solid local operatic tradition. CTO grew out of the ashes of the opera department of Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB), one of four regional councils set up to fund and control the arts during the apartheid era. One of its aims was to show the world – and convince white South Africans – how “civilised” the country was. CAPAB Opera made its debut in 1964 with The Bartered Bride. Moving When our cast to a newly built sing Porgy And opera house in Bess, they sing 1971, the opening production was from the heart Aida – an interbecause it means racial drama something to played out for a whites-only them. audience. By the mid-1970s, the theatre itself was officially desegregated, but the company was still unable to employ non-white performers. In parallel with all this, artists from the city’s so-called “coloured” community organised themselves into The Eoan Group, an indefatigable ensemble that, despite all obstacles, promoted several seasons of opera at the Cape Town City Hall. Many notable voices emerged there, and some of them – or their descendants – were eventually embraced by CAPAB. But nothing was easy in those politically sensitive times. Though encouraged by artistic managements to exploit legal loopholes and perform opera (and ballet), artists from Cape Town’s black and coloured communities could easily find themselves branded as collaborators. From 1989, under Angelo Gobbato’s artistic directorship, CAPAB Opera made strenuous attempts to fill its stage with casts more representative of the country’s demographic, tapping into the strong tradition of black community choirs and laying the foundation of the present CTO. Programming changed, too, especially after 1994, with new South African works being commissioned and premiered (the Mandela Trilogy being the most recent example). The other ‘feeder’ company was – and remains – the University of Cape Town’s Opera School, also under Gobbato’s control in the 1980s, but with an interesting history going back to the early 1920s under the direction of the Italian tenor Giuseppe Paganelli. In 2012, opera is as much a part of the city’s cultural life as ever, but those at the helm of CTO have had to fight hard for its continued existence. Not surprisingly, in the early post-apartheid years, CAPAB and the country’s other performing arts councils became synonymous with the old regime, and government funding was cut off in the late 1990s. The opera companies in Pretoria, Durban and Bloemfontein quickly folded, but in Cape Town the management, the friends organisation and potential sponsors rallied to save something that was indeed valued across the community, and CTO was born. John is Editor of Opera magazine and Chief Music Critic of the Sunday Telegraph. Porgy And Bess is at The Marlowe from Wed 27–Sat 30 June. Summer 2012 Spotlight 27 Sponsors of the Friends Of The Marlowe for 15 years Playing a starring role in financial advice A truly independent locally owned employer with Chartered Status since 1973. Pharon offers real commitment to Canterbury and East Kent through sponsorship of a large range of Art, Sport and Youth Activities. Pharon Independent Financial Advisers Ltd, Lawrence House, Summer Hill, Harbledown, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8GT Telephone: 01227 787000 Fax: 01227 819804 Website: www.pharon.co.uk Email: [email protected] Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority Photograph kindly supplied by Spires Academy, Canterbury.