Thanks to the resourcefulness and resilience of a Workington theatre group, people will soon be able to enjoy their long-awaited return to the auditorium. While life on stage appears to have ground to a halt around much of the country, Workington Playgoers is determined to ensure the show must go on. And if that means rehearsing outside, in bone-chilling temperatures, then so be it. The group will be staging
The River, by Jez Butterworth, at the Theatre Royal next week. There will be a reduced capacity in the auditorium and the number of actors and backstage crew has been kept to a minimum but otherwise it will be showbusiness as usual.
As the time to curtain-up becomes tantalisingly close for actors and theatre goers in the area, one theatre is taking the opportunity to prepare for post-lockdown with a recruitment drive. Workington Playgoers at Theatre Royal in Workington already has rehearsals underway for their first production, but are looking forward to being able to meet again in person. They wish to increase their numbers and want to train people to work alongside existing members. They are looking for people in every field: a bar manager, front of house work, set design, set building, set decorating, light and sound, props, wardrobe - people can choose to work in a single capacity or multi task in various ways.
‘We’ll drink to that’ - fourth time lucky for cast of Di Viv and Rose Photo by Chris Lewis Photography An amateur dramatics group has had just 10 days to prepare to perform a play which has had to be postponed three times due to coronavirus.
Workington Playgoers were word perfect with Di, Viv and Rose in March, then lockdown came in and a second date was set for November 10. Then the second lockdown came in and they aimed for a December 15 date, but feared this would not happen either. Now, with further changes made to the script in order for the cast to adhere to social distancing measures on stage, they hope that they can go ahead with the Amelia Bullmore play from December 15 to 19.