Fiona. Hi, it s Fiona Murray here, the Thurso Players SCDA rep. with lots of news. To be announced later in the spring season. 28th Feb & 1st March

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1 About six months ago I hadn't even heard of Fred Carmichael until friends of ours who are involved back-stage with Macclesfield Little Theatre told me about this play and how much the audience had enjoyed it. So nothing ventured nothing gained I thought it was time to try my hand at directing a full length play with the hope that we could entertain our loyal supporters in like fashion. Once I had read the script I saw the potential for a fun show, not quite realising at that moment all the pitfalls that lay ahead. Had I known what lay ahead we could well have renamed the show "Out of Actors - Gone to the Doctors", or as Philip so succinctly put it on opening night, "Out of Light...Out of Murder", or "Please put a Shilling in the meter, Cogburn"! However, in spite of all our health problems during this production, I have to admire all the cast for sticking at their tasks through thick and thin, so that at the end of the day we had a show we could be proud of. I very much enjoyed the creative side of directing and I thank everybody involved in helping me to paint that picture; a wonderful set that looked like the interior of a Vermont country house, believable characters dressed to impress, and thunder & lightening so realistic that the actors really did come on stage drenched in rain! Eric

2 Hi, it s Fiona Murray here, the Thurso Players SCDA rep. with lots of news. ONE ACT PLAY DIRECTING WORKSHOPS Friday 24th May West Church, Thurso 7pm (with Wine & Cheese) AND Saturday 25th May The Mill Theatre, Thurso 7pm (with Desserts) To be announced later in the spring season 28th Feb & 1st March 28th & 29th March 2014 To be announced later in the spring season UPSTAGE DOWNSTAGE is a two-night workshop of reading & directing One-Act play excerpts, giving potential and experienced directors opportunities to explore scenes, unravel the secrets of character development, build directing skills and gather tips on some great script choices including comedy, farce and drama. Carole Williams, the SCDA National Drama Adviser will visit Caithness to lead the workshops designed to encourage new Directors and Thespians throughout the county - Thurso Players, Wick Players, Halkirk Drama Group and beyond. You are all invited! Caithness District SCDA Chair, Donald Farmer commented: Collaborating with Ms Williams to facilitate the workshops has the potential to stimulate enthusiasm in one-act plays that may translate into a 2014 festival. So if you are a little curious to learn how a production goes from page to stage, please join us. The sessions will be slightly different. You can come to both and if curiosity alone can t entice you in, there ll be rewards of wine & cheese on Friday and some delicious home-baked desserts on Saturday. Entrance is by donation and although no advanced bookings are necessary, please let me know if you do plan to attend so we have an idea of numbers for catering and scripts. Thurso Players will need a new rep to be elected at the 8th Sept AGM, as I have completed three years serving on the committee. Would you like my job? I hope so. Please get in touch if keen. Fiona To Contact Fiona tpscdarep@fsmail.net

3 As you may recall from the last newsletter, the roof of the Mill Theatre has seen better days The committee has formed a working group who have been making steady progress over the winter. So Far: Consulted a reputable local architect Planning was approved back in November Various award giving bodies applied to for funding Significant chunk of the requisite funds raised Not there yet though look out for various little fundraising events in the local community, every penny helps! Tender process completed (remarkably quickly) At time of printing, we re fairly certain that the work will go ahead from June 3 rd, with scaffolding going up around the Mill in the preceding week! This will, inevitably, have a significant impact on our ability to use the Mill during the works, and the Calendar section later in this newsletter will certainly suffer some re-arrangement. As soon as we know the details for sure, we ll let everyone know as soon as we can! Sadly, there s no way to avoid the disruption but an improved roof will ensure our continued activities into the future! In the meantime, don t panic. The Roof s sound as a tractors seat! [Out Of Sight Out Of Murder reference there Ed.] It s that time of year again! When we have a bit of a review of the year just gone, committee places are decided for the year ahead, and we attempt to make the mists of the future seem a little less murky [Goodness, he s getting a little carried away here Ed.]. This year, the Thurso Players Annual General Meeting will be held at: Wednesday 22 nd May 7:30 pm

4 A fine array of Sweaters, T-shirts, Rugby shirts and other utility clothing have been arranged with the Thurso Players (not the junior s one) insignia on them! They are available; through our junior section Rep Alison Gerrard. The final chance to order is by Sunday 30th June. If anyone has any questions they can contact Alison via the details shown, or can post their order form to: 84 Duncan Street, Thurso To Contact Alison alison_gerrard_84@hotmail.co.uk To place an order: Oder form can be found with the catalogue There might be some at the Mill as well [Seriously if there s any there at all, there aren t many, you re better printing. Ed.] o Catalogue will be distributed via at the same time as this newsletter o Soon to be available [I hope. Ed.] on the Player s Website too Print at home Fill it in Return it to Alison before the 30 th June Cash works for this, but if you prefer to write a cheque, please make payable to: M. Gordon. Some of the goods

5 There s really a lot going on over the summer months and into autumn, folks! So, take a seat with a tasty beverage and see if any of the following grabs your attention. Here is a no-frills overview of all the notable dates that Players and The Mill have in store. [Frills would have taken forever, sorry Ed.] Fri 3 rd May Fri 17 th May Wed 22 nd May Theatre Broad present Ira Levin s Deathtrap The Mill Tickets 8 ( 6 conc.) from Caithness Horizons: Night at the Museum Caithness Horizons With help from some of the Thurso Players Juniors! Thurso Players ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Mill 7.30pm All are welcome to this very important meeting. Any queries about the A.G.M. to Lesley Jackson lesley.jackson1@btinternet.com A form for nominating someone onto the committee is available in the bulletin that was recently distributed by . Sat 25 th May Sun 26 th May UPSTAGE DOWNSTAGE (SCDA) The Mill Theatre 7pm (with Desserts) The SUNDAY Skinandis This is a fundraising event. This year s lucky recipients are Thurso Players and Thurso Youth Club. 1st Sesh for younger juniors and primaries pm Lots of music, games and family fun 2nd Sesh for older teenagers and adults 7pm -12am Tickets: 5 adults; 3 under 18; under 12 go free It is up to us to supply volunteers to man the door, run the cloakroom, and sell raffle tickets and the like. We also need help entertaining and looking after small children during the afternoon Sesh. Parents of junior players would be very welcome as volunteers! The more people we can get help from the easier it will be! Can you give an hour or two on that day? If you can, please contact: Philip Arthur philip.r.g.arthur@btinternet.com There is a volunteer f.a.q. attached to the, recently distributed, bulletin Wed 29 th May - Scaffolding likely in place around the Mill Beauty Treatment Demonstration The Mill 7.30 pm Contact Helen Maughan: Fri 31 st May Junior Disco *** Postponed until later in the summer *** We will let you know as soon as it s re-scheduled! [Don t stop! There s plenty more Ed.]

6 Sat 1 st & Sun 2 nd June Scaffolding likely in place around the Mill Art Exhibition & Demonstration Mill Theatre 10am-7pm A grand variety of local arts & crafts will be on display in the Mill Theatre If you have a piece of artwork you d like to enter, there are places still available! [For now Ed.] Contact: Joy Jackson One demonstration by local artist(s) will take place each day! [We hear there ll be opportunities to take part. Ed.] Open to general public throughout! Entrance Cost: 5 Refreshments available (small donation appreciated) The majority of proceeds will be split between: Scottish National Blood Transfusion & Wick Hospital Sat 8 th June Subject to re-arrangement/cancellation due to roof works Juniors A-Play-In-A-Day with 2 performances in the evening! Workshop 10am-4.30pm Price for day: 5 Contact Lesley Jackson for further info or to book a place lesley.jackson1@btinternet.com Sat 15 th June - Subject to re-arrangement/cancellation due to roof works Make-Up & Prosthetics Workshop The Mill If you wish to join this exciting event contact: Audrey O Brien: obrienc15@hotmail.com 21 st 23 rd June - Subject to re-arrangement/cancellation due to roof works A Midsummer Night s Scream A festival of fantasy and horror The centre piece will be a Zombie Run through Thurso where runners must negotiate hordes of zombies littered along a 5k course. This will take place on Sat 22nd at 8pm. The festival is being staged to raise money for a Highland Youth Activities project (The Avatar Project) so it is for a good local cause. If you would like more information or would like to take part in one of these events, please telephone: Or info@screamthurso.co.uk 27, 28 & 29 th June - Cancelled due to roof works THURSO PLAYERS PRODUCTION OF YAZMIN REZA S ART You love art; but what would you pay for a painting? A satirical, witty, funny play about life really Tickets: 8 ( 6 conc.) from Caithness Horizons st - 13 th July Subject to timely completion of roof works Junior Whoops XVII workshops 2 performances Friday and Saturday night Tickets from Caithness Horizons [Nearly there there s an important bit coming up. Ed.]

7 Mon 15 th July Sat 31 st Aug 13 th & 14 th Sept The Tannerhill Weavers Mill Theatre Named after the little known (nowadays) Scottish Poet Robert Tannerhill PANTOMIME 2013 AUDITIONS This year will probably be held in the hall in Thurso High School More details as soon as we get them! THURSO PLAYERS PRESENT ROALD DAHL S THE WITCHES This will be performed in Thurso High School. 1 performance on the Friday and 2 performances on the Saturday Ticket sales and prices T.B.A. AUDITION DATE FOR THIS PRODUCTION WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE Thurso Players have been approached by Alan McIvor who would like to see collaboration between Thurso Heritage Society, Thurso Players and Caithness FM. Possibly an historical production in a number of episodes. IDEA 1: A script about Robert Dick the Thurso Baker, such a script already exists with the BBC and they would be happy for it to be used. IDEA 2: Similar to the above but maybe about the fishing industry, flagstone industry etc. IDEA 3: Thurso Heritage to do a walk/tour around the town. At certain points it is thought that members of Thurso Players could be costumed and re-enact a scene or tell a short-story. Educational, entertaining and good P.R. for 3 local organisations. But there s a bit of a problem While the committee think this is an excellent idea; all are already committed to a large amount of Players work this year. We need someone from the membership to take this forward. There is no time scale for this project. Maybe a meeting with Alan would be feasible for someone. If you think you can help with this project, please contact: Lesley Jackson: lesley.jackson1@btinternet.com Or Alan McIvor: alanmcivor@btopenworld.com Calendar data all Thanks to Lesley! Have a lovely summer folks! Look out for the next edition in Ach about August, probably.