Hartpury Drama Group Newsletter, Extra March 2023.

Secretary : Angela,. Chairman : Dave P,. Treasurer : Ron F,. Committee : Kevin B, Mike C, Richard K, Sue K, Steve J.

Angela Gaskell, Secretary:
email: hartpurydramagroup1973@gmail.com
Address: Nettlecomb House, Highleadon GL18 1HH
Mobile number: 07807 130901

Dear Thesps,
Encouraging new members
It is worth mentioning that one of the main reasons to get into amateur theatre is to meet people
and to make friends; especially so if you are new to the area and are wanting to make new and
lasting friendships. So, members, please cut and paste the condensed leaflet below and email it
to new neighbours and friends you might have recently become acquainted with to encourage them
to come and join us.

Message from Dave Page:
Re: Mother Goose Production 
Things are progressing very well and this is mainly down to a large, committed and effective team.
I have an excellent strong cast and to each of you, I give a very special thanks. All of you are
performing well and upping your game at each rehearsal. You are a delight to direct.
I have to single out Jane H, Marketing and Publicity Officer, who has done an amazing job as
sponsorship continues to roll in. (See below)
Others are also quietly beavering away in the background – Den G, Producer; Ron F, Set Design
and Production and valued Committee Treasurer; Richard P, Set Painting (see below); 
Trish G, Costumes and choreographer; Angie, HDG Secretary; Lucy H, Singing Coach and Mentor;
Maxine Le C, dance stylist, Jean S our props lady, the list goes on…
However…,
I want to make a very special mention to Kevin and Lucy B:

Re: MG, having made this huge commitment we now need to sell as many tickets as we can.
Sue K is doing an excellent job coordinating ticket sales. I can assure you that our audiences
will enjoy a super show that offers great entertainment so we need each of you to contact Sue and
purchase tickets if you have not already done so.
This is a rallying call to the membership to find two extra MG crew to help us with scene changes!
The set will be constructed on stage Sunday 5th March. Once we start rehearsing - with the set in
place - there are as many as fifteen scene changes. We desperately require two extra scenery change
assistants. The slats are heavy and large so helpers will need to be strong, and be able to attend
all remaining rehearsals and the four shows (rehearsals are Tuesday and Thursday nights 7-9 pm). 
If you can help us fill these two important vacancies, please contact the Secretary asap by email
at: hartpurydrama21@gmail.com or by telephone at 07807 130901

The Technical Rehearsal is on 7th March! Less than 2 weeks away. Only 5 weeks until the first show!
A big thank you goes to Mike J for continuing to organise our social supper evenings. The next one
is at The Swan in Staunton on 22nd March and so far 21 members of HDG have already signed up!
Details of our Safari Supper in June are included in all newsletters. We are still looking for a
variety of people to come forward to entertain at our AGM in September. We are, after all, 
thespians …! Show us your hidden talents….
Cheers,
Dave P
~~~~
Cast & Crew please diarise the remaining rehearsal calendar dates for Mother Goose 
Note no rehearsal, Thursday 2nd March
No rehearsal Thursday 9th March, however…
There is a rehearsal Friday 10th March
Important!
Tuesday technical rehearsal 7th March. The cast, chorus and crew need to arrive early as there is
a lot to get through! 
The set will be in place from Sunday, 5th March.
Five weeks to go to performance dates. Books down please to allow you to build on the
characterisation of your role.
~~~~
Mike’s Social Supper night out on 22nd March  The Swan Community Hub Staunton
21 members going so far, Wednesday, 22nd March.  Not too late to join us. 
Let the Secretary know asap.      £15 per person. 
~~~~
The set building nearing completion.
Message from Richard P: Sunday 26 March a new paint squad is required to help paint the MG flats.
If you’d like to help please let the secretary know asap. 

Thank you to the volunteers who turned up to assist with scenery painting and set construction.
Ron F and I are very grateful to have received your valued assistance. You did a splendid job and
below you can see some of your work. So thank you Richard K, Frank, Steve, Mike, and Angie.
A special thank you goes to Victor for continuing to allow us to use his extensive workshop
space; and thank you to Sheila for providing hot coffee.
Well done, guys!
Richard.

Mother Goose tickets
Are now on sale from our Box Office. Sue K is our ticketing supremo. Please get in touch with her
to let her know how many seats you would like to book. Tickets are steadily moving at a pace
already so please don’t delay in ordering yours. 
Details are in the posters below. Sue has loads of poster flyers so do ask her for a whole bunch
and distribute them far and wide. This show is reliant on our membership pushing tickets. 
Please do your utmost to help us get bums on seats. 

Jane Henderson, publicity officer for MG has done us proud. Sponsorships are continuing to come in …

Safari Supper:

Date planned 6 pm Saturday, 17th June:
Aperitifs provided by Trish and Frank G
Starter course provided by Dave and Lynda P
Main course provided by Richard and Caroline K
Puddings and a cheese selection provided by Steve and Chrissy J
Please contact the Secretary if you are joining us: hartpurydrama21@gmail.com
ROVING
SAFARI SUPPER!
START POINT:  Frank & Trish G’s abode  for drinks 18.00 hrs
CONTINUE TO: Lynda & Dave P’s place for entrées and nibbles 18.45 hrs
SAUNTER ALONG TO: Caroline & Richard K’s Cottage for the main course 
FINISH THE ROVE ABOUT AT: Chris & Steve’s spread for puddings & cheese selection
If you wish to attend please let the secretary know ASAP. 
Food and drinks contributions as per the usual SS arrangements
Tips
Please arrange to car share if possible
~~~~

September’s AGM and BBQ
BYO drinks, 
Entertainment provided
The date planned: 6 pm Saturday, 2nd September. 
Steve and Chrissy J have once again agreed to host the event. 
Dave is asking anyone wishing to entertain at the AGM: song; poem; comedy sketch;
Shakespeare monologue; play their instrument or opt to simply take part in a prepared comedy
sketch, to email him or the Secretary with their proposal, as early as possible. 
Please contact Dave or the Secretary with your proposal, at: hartpurydrama21@gmail.com or
dagwoodp5@gmail.com
Our AGM hosts Steve and Chrissy will provide a BBQ. Numbers have to be pre-planned to be 
catered for. It is therefore a necessity that they know how many members and friends will be
attending. If you are planning on coming to the AGM let the Secretary know as early as
possible:  hartpurydrama21@gmail.com
Food contributions as per the usual BBQ arrangements
Bring your own drinks and beverages 
Tips
Please arrange to bring a fold-away garden chair
~~~~
Autumn Production 
Trish G is to direct our HDG autumn 2023 (November time with dates TBC).
Forthcoming HDG Murder Mystery Dinner Production titled: 
A FASHIONABLE MURDER

The scene is the green room 90 minutes before Harpers Fashion House launch their new range
“The Siddlington Collection”. Tempers are frayed, but is it enough for murder? 
Audience interrogation: 10 minutes
The Narrator sets the scene: 
Backstage in the run-up to a fashion show, the artistic tensions are explosive. Julia Harper,
owner of Harpers Fashion House is antagonising everyone. The show's financial backer, Aaron
Powers is trying to smooth things over. George Milton, Julia's boyfriend, is stretching their
relationship. Julia's sister, Penny Harper is looking for credit for her work. Security guard
Nick Jones is looking for trouble. There's fashion critic Timothy Holden with plenty to
criticise. Sam Jones, the house fashion designer is under pressure. Artistic director Philip
St John is on a short fuse. Model Lucy Temple is ready to be catty on the catwalk. Of course,
such tensions can lead to creative triumph, but in this case, things take a turn in another
direction entirely. 
It's up to the audience to solve the ensuing murder!
Audience participation and supper in the interval and canapés and vol-au-vents after the show
make for a good night out.
Dates for auditions to follow soon. Cast required: 5 men, 4 women plus a narrator.
~~~~
Poem to keep you going
His Fault…!

Growls from lungs whistling through fluttering lips,
From the mouth tortured snuffles ‘n drooling drips.
This slumbering snorter - no woman would keep–
I could kill him; he’s depriving me of all my sleep!!

And I think he must snore through wide-open pores,
I’ve taped up his mouth ‘n nostrils ‘n nothing works!
Once a dreamboat but now he’s a walrus that roars–
I prod, poke and elbow him; justifiable night perks!!

His racket enters my dream state like a battleship–
In slumber, he lies while in ruin lies our relationship.
Nasal guns roar torpedoing peace; to all he is blind,
He’s nescient; I could kill him; it’s entered my mind!

This man in an oblivious state is driving me insane–
His nightly noisy torture has become my life’s bane!
I lay watching curtains arch in pain wafting unsightly,
I fantasize about murder; as I don my nighty, nightly.

Once he was an Adonis in my dreams; oh, so sweet,
I thought being married to this man would be a treat.
Now sharing a bed the walls shake so does the floor,
All night long I bristle as he snores like a wild boar!!

No! I’ll not fill his cup with arsenic…at least not yet—
A fatal outcome I’ve plotted in my head; oh, you bet!
I’ll not morph into a homicidal maniac; just yet, I say,
After all…it's only just daybreak, I have a whole day!
Gaskell, A.

Cheers,
Angie

Angela Gaskell (HDG   Secretary).