Blood Brothers.Grand Theatre Blackpool

Hello everyone,
                            I hope you are all well, over the last few months I have been having  a great time with a new theatre group, back in Jan we were asked if we would like to put on a play at a large theatre in Blackpool called The Grand Theatre! We were extremely happy to be offered this opportunity, our plays are usually performed at a smaller local theatre. The grand is an old building and many famous people have played here. We preformed the play in June at both the grand theatre and our smaller theatre!

Everyone took lots of photos to capture this unique experience, we also had a professional photographer!  I thought I would share the photos with you, we had such an amazing time, no one wanted it to end. I have collected flyer's, brochures, photos and memorabilia to remember this unique event.

Blood Brothers The Play. June 2012. I played the rich mother called Mrs Lyons, mother to Eddie. The play version has a different ending to the musical with a twist at the end. Mrs Lyons goes mad and kills her own son by accident and then turns the gun on Mickey, I played Mrs Lyons!

We took lots of backstage photos.I love this one, it captures the atmosphere in the girls changing room.

The grand also had a make-up artist come make us look older or younger! Although I did my own hair and make up for most scenes I did have a few lines added to make me look a little crazy and my hair was made to look dishevelled towards the end .ha,ha

The seating in the Grand is HUGE. We played here 2 nights and a matinee. We had around 300 people in each performance.

 

Can you see where the queen sits when some comes to visit? In the royal boxes at the side of the stage.

Mrs Johnston and the Milk man! ha,ha 'Are ya dancin'?

Here I am been turned into 'Loopy Lyons' which I was affectionately named!

'I wouldn't let him play with the kids up at that end Mrs Lyons'

Marilyn Monroe (also playing Lynda) and Mickey.
                                               

'Whats that mummy'?

 'What'?

 'over there'?

'Oh, those houses? that's the beginning of a council estate'.

'No,no don't look mummy, never look at one magpie, its one for sorrow'.

'Oh Edward that's just a silly superstition'.

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Me! And our bear friend that travelled around the theatre and beyond!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of the fun we had in this show. I have many more photos but this post would be far too long. I might share some of those at another time. The show was also filmed and we are looking forward to seeing that! Our next production is a radio play of 'Its a wonderful life' in November.

Bye for now Priscilla x

The Crucible Play

Hi Everyone,

                      Well it is all over and what a fantastic time we all had!!! I am sad to see it end but we have some great photos from the show. We staged the play on the floor so we could be near to the audience.It simple set but most affective I think. Hope you enjoy the photos, I am Elizabeth Proctor in the brown dress, John proctor is in the cream shirt, Rev hale,Abigail and Mary Warren. If you do not know the story to the Crucible I recommend you read it or watch the movie.Such a powerful story based on real events on the Salem Witch trials of 1692.

Here I am as Elizabeth Proctor.I loved the costume!!

John Proctor,Elizabeth and Rev Hale. Hale had come to question the proctors about Witchcraft in their house. Elizabeth is accused.

John and Elizabeth arguing before Hale arrives at the door.

Elizabeth hands the poppet over to the court. The poppet is the reason Elizabeth is taken to the jail. Although it belongs Mary Warren....

Rev Hale telling us I am accused of Witchcraft. He asks us lots of questions about our beliefs.

 Elizabeth telling John Abigail wants her dead so she can replace Elizabeth in their marriage!

 Act 1. The afflicted girls, Betty and Rebbecca Nurse comforting the screaming child.

Rev Hale tells Tituba to confess to witchcraft and go back to god. Abigail is in the yellow dress,she had an affair with my husband!

John rips up the warrant for Elizabeth's arrest!!

In the rehearsal room. There were 20 members of cast in this play,not everyone was there for this photo. We had a fantastic time and I cant wait to do another with this group!!! Hope you enjoyed the photos. These are taken from Act 1 and 2. If I can get hold of act 3 and 4 I will post those too....

See you all again soon Priscilla xx

Happy Halloween!! and the Crucible Play

Hello everyone!
                               I hope you are all well. Its that time of year again! Halloween. It has crept up on me this year and the weather has been so mild in the UK it hasn't felt like Autumn. What are you all up too this year? Carved any pumpkins?  I am hoping to carve a pumpkin tonight and go to my local pub tomorrow with a friend, they are having a bit of a do in there and I have never been before so should be interesting.

Although I havnt been prepared for Halloween, I have been feeling very WITCHY!! back in August I joined a new Drama group and they were casting the Crucible by Arthur Miller. Well as most of my regular readers know I love all things Halloween and Witchy so I had to join.!!  I am happy to say I got the part of Elizabeth Proctor and the rehearsals are going great!
Elizabeth and John Proctor
We had photos taken for the newspaper the other day I cant wait to see them, I will post photos and links when I get them. The show is on the 23-26th November. This is one of my favourite plays, and the movie with Winona Ryder is amazing if you havnt seen it I recommend it!

Doing this play has reminded me just how much I want to visit Salem Ma, I would love to go the the place where all the history happened and it looks amazing.


I will say goodbye for now! Happy Halloween !!!

Priscilla xx

October Theatre plays? Love your ideas!

The photo above is from a play called 'A tomb with a view', October 2010. I am in the middle in white ;)

Hi everyone!

I have just returned from my local theatre company reading of our next play for June. It has been cast and although I am not in the play this time, there is talk to the next play we produce in October. Usually we have a company rule....... which is none one can direct a play unless you have directed a small 'One Act Play' that gave you experience. This rule has been changed this year due to the usual people not wanting to direct. Sooooo it is open to anyone! Of course we will have help from those who have directed!

I am writing this Blog post to ask for your Ideas and help and to have a little fun too! The play is in October and I would LOVE to direct my first play in the month of Halloween, and choose a play that suits the month!!

I was wondering if any of you had been to see, or know of any atmospheric plays that you think would suit the spooky month of Halloween? Can be ghost inspired,or murder mysteries, I would love to hear of any adaptions of great books you may have heard of!

Directing a play is something I would love to do. and it would be great to put forward a play to my group! SO I though why not ask my great blogging friends and see what books/plays etc you may know of or have seen...........

I know the 'Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of death' is also a script.how fantastic would that be, a cozy play!!!

Thank you for any help. look forward to hearing your favourite plays or movies as sometimes they are scripts too!

Talk soon Priscilla xxx

Our Play: 'Spark In Judea'

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying great weather? It has been so hot here today! Lets hope it keeps it up! I thought I would share a few photos of a production my theatre company put on for Easter! I know time has gone by since then, but there has been so much happening time just disappeared! My parents are wanting to sell their house so we have been on a huge clear out, we are still working on it!
This play followed Pontius Pilate and his wife and many others...(I played his wife) before and during the crucifixion of Jesus. The play was a success and we enjoyed taking part in it. It was a rather eventful play though, we were not sure everyone would remember their lines as it was a three act play, with some challenging long speeches! but we pulled it off within the last few rehearsals... Here are some photos of the night...we preformed one night in the church itself which was a great experience
Backstage.. The best thing about been in this play was getting to preform along side my good friends.. We are a small company but don't always get to work alongside our friends.. The lady with the long hair is called Helen , she played Mary Magdalene.

Here are my other good friends. Joan to the right of me (I am the one in the middle) ;) and Hazel behind. The costumes were amazing on this show! The costume lady spent a few month looking at costumes on the web, and the male costumes have layers of cotton!

I love the set too ! The fabric was just so rich and we had candles onstage... This is Claudia Procula and Aurelian the architect chatting over old times..

Pontius Pilate and Claudia Procula ( Dave and me) Dave and I enjoyed been in this play, it is the largest role I have played yet..!

Real fruit !

We are now looking at scripts for plays in October, .. If I am not cast in that play, we will all take part in the Pantomime in Feb next year

I hope you enjoyed looking at our photos from 'Spark In Judea' I have to return my costume yet, you can become quite attached to them ha,ha ...

have a great weekend everyone, Take care

Priscilla x

Cake..and more Cake..

Hi everyone..
It feels like spring is on its way in my part of the world. The sun is shining..Which is lovely to see!! So nice from the drab gray sky,although it is still very cold.

As most of you know I am a member of a local Theatre company, well last week a friend who is directing our next play asked me to make his Birthday Cake... and theme it around Theatre/Drama.

Comedy and Tragedy Masks

...is what everyone thinks of when thinking of theatre, I made these in paste and dusted with edible silver glitter dust...

'Admit One' Theatre ticket... Hand painted, with Bernard's Birthday 7.2. and this years date 10....The roses were also hand made.

' Spark In Judea' is the next play I will be in. Which Bernard is directing.

Some of you who visit my blog regularly may remember I also made a cake for Bernard's Birthday at Drama last Year!

Harry Potter Wizard Cake

Here is the link...
http://priscillascottage.blogspot.com/2008/02/harry-potter-wizard-cake.html

I hope you all enjoyed the pics... Its something I love to do

See you soon

Priscilla xx

Faux Cake, Panto and Thinking thin!!!

Panto Time again... I am in Panto from the 18th to the 21st Feb playing Princess Alice in Puss In Boots! We have been rehearsing for months and now the show is starting to come together, everyone is trying on costumes, having photos taken and finding props.

There is a scene in the Panto that calls for a 'Pie in the face' moment ! Or more precise a gateau..... They were going to use paper plate, with foam, but I thought hopefully I could put my cake skills to good use and create a fun looking Faux cake.........although I have to admit I have never made a faux cake before!!

So this last week I dug out some tile adhesive from my garage.....and got to work. It was quite an experience, it drys fast and I only had one spare piping nozzle, one piping bag and a whole lot of mess!!! ha,ha

I had a lot of fun! and I am quite pleased with the final outcome...so now at least we have a cake! I would love to do it again, here's hoping they need more cake theme props ha,ha
The shaving foam will be added to the top so the 'evil Sir Rodger' can squish his face good and proper!

Hopefully I can capture some photos of the cake in action! and share them soon.......

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Now on to Think Thin Thursday

I am starting to feel as though I am making progress, I know this post is late, but I still want to check in and let you know how I am doing.

Exercise is feeling more natural to me now. I walk more and if I can spare 15 or 20 Min's, or while I wait for the kettle to boil I dance or stretch or just shake my body!! lol I am noticing I am not getting out of breath as quickly, and need to do more to feel the heart beat faster,

At the start I weighed roughly 11 st which was around 158 lbs. Which for my height at just over 5'1 was not what I wanted......... I can now happily say I am slowly weighing less........ at 152.6

I know its not major weight loss, but its coming down and I am really, really happy!

Our task for this week is to list a low calorie dessert, I found some biscuits called 'Nice' from Morrison's, they are plain fingers with coconut. and are so much less in sugar and fat than some others, so I have been snacking on those this week.

1. My goals for this week is to keep doing what I am doing regarding exercise

2. Try the new chicken recipe

3. Stick to eating healthy evening meal options such as fish or chicken, no quick packaged meals!

****I also want to say such a warm thank you for your comments on the cake, It is lovely to hear all your comments and I am pleased you enjoy viewing them as much as I do making them!*****

See you again soon Have a great week xxx

Priscilla x