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Play in a Week Produced
and Directed by Sarah Litton 11th-15th
August 2008
What can we say? The Children’s Production was an
astounding success, due to the excellent hard work of Sarah Litton, her two
helpers from Peter Symonds in
The Children take the Lead As I walked into the Village Hall one Thursday last month,
the whole place was alive with the sight and sound of 16 children, aged
between 8 and 13, diligently rehearsing for their big performance of “Ernie’s
Incredible Illucinations” by Alan Ayckbourn – or in this case, “Elsie’s
Incredible Illucinations”, as the title role was taken by Lauren Cartwright. Lauren told me: “I’m really happy with the part, I
wasn’t expecting it. It’s been hard to learn the lines but I’m really
enjoying it and am amazed we’ve done it in a week.” When the Somborne Players first decided to stage a
production starring only children, we were delighted that Sarah Litton from
Up Somborne was willing to take on the massive organisation of the project.
Sarah, who has previously run her own drama business, knew that the best (if
possibly the most exhausting) way of working towards a children’s production
was to put on a week long summer school with a performance at the end. Eleanor Gravenor, who plays Dad, says: “Sarah
teaches us well – she has taught us about projecting our voices and diction.”
And Courtney Collis, who plays a patient, a barker and a sinister man, adds:
“it’s really fun doing warm ups and practising dying.” Along with two helpers, Claudia Dickens and Olivia Gillman
from Peter Symonds College in Winchester, of whom Issy van Leest (playing a
barker, a patient and a man in the boxing ring) says: “they have really
helped a lot, especially with going over lines”, Sarah also had the help of
Jade Duncan in the role of backstage manager. Jade’s view of her job is: “You
have to be very organised. At the beginning no one knew what to do, but in
three days people have really become good.” Gemma Duncan (soldier and lady in library) agrees
that: “When you do it over and over again you get much better – it’s a lot to
get done in a week.” And Rosie Monk (referee) adds: “You have to practise
hard each night, which makes it easier the next day.” A lot of the children have found learning lines the
most difficult part. Sebastian van Leest, playing a hilarious Auntie May told
me: “When I first got my lines I was “Oh, I’ve got so much”, but I’ve learnt
them all now.” And Isabelle Ryan, playing the Doctor, commented: “It’s hard
work but really fun. I’m pleased to have the part of the Doctor. I’m on stage
all the way through so I really have to concentrate.” Overall, with the lights set up, costumes on, music
playing and a cacophony of running, screaming, guns firing and funny accents,
this is set to be an innovative and exciting production to showcase the
amazing talent of King’s Somborne’s youth, none of which would have been
possible without the inexhaustible enthusiasm and patience of Sarah Litton.
I’m in complete agreement with Juliette Ryan, who plays the role of Mum, when
she says: “This is a great achievement and a fabulous show for a week’s
work.” written for The
Gauntlet by Vanessa Sharpe
Elsie's
Incredible Illucinations The week of the 11th -15th August,
saw a cast of 16 youngsters in the village come together under the
skilful management of Sarah Litton, who, in association with the
Somborne Players, and with the help of Olivia Gillman and Claudia Dickens,
produced a ‘Play in a Week’. At the start of the week the children had no knowledge of
Elsie or her Strange Illucincations, yet in just five days they were
auditioned, cast, learnt their lines, rehearsed, made costumes and
props, staged and performed this play from scratch. Elsie’s Incredible Illucinations was written by Alan Aykbourn
in 1967, and designed specifically for young actors. On the evening of Friday 15th the culmination of
the weeks activities brought the wonderful performance to a crowd of proud
family members, friends and Players, assembled in the Village Hall. We were introduced to Elsie, played by Lauren Cartwright, who
told of her extraordinary daydreams, which seemed to be experienced by those
around her….with somewhat alarming consequences. Mum and Dad, (Juliette Ryan
and Eleanor Gravenor)were at their wits end and took her to see the Doctor
(Isabelle Ryan), whose response was rather Skeptical. The audience were
delighted to be led into Elsie’s world, and taken on an exciting journey
of alarming German Wartime Soldiers (Billy Andrews, Rosie Monk, Louis
Andrews, Gemma Duncan). Sebastian van Leest delivered an hilarious
performance as a Boxing Aunty, and Courtney Collis had us watching over
our shoulders for espionage. The Librarians (Isabelle woods, Lucy Geary,
Hannah Gravenor) convinced us that the Library Steps were actually a bitterly
exposed, sheer mountain face…........but thankfully we survived the exposure,
and the patients in the Doctor’s waiting room (Isabelle Woods, Izzy van
Leest, and Jazmine Perry) also survived their waiting room experience, and
lived to tell the tale. The entire cast can be proud of their performance which
received rapturous applause from the large audience. Grateful thanks to Sarah
Litton for her tireless contribution and effort throughout the week, and
to her able assistants, Olivia and Claudia, from Following the play, everyone gathered outside for a
well earned barbecue, which we all enjoyed in the evening sunshine in
the company of many new faces. It was great to have so many members of the
community joining us. written for The Gauntlet
by Pollyann Monk
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