Current Production Information...
The show is now over! Thanks to all who were involved and all who came to see it! Read the review here. We had some wonderful feedback, some of which we will share with you below:
- Brilliant performance!
- Singing standard very high.
- Keep up the good work. Very good music and singing.
- We were sat outside mens toilets and they were a bit woofy!
- See you next year!! (More chocolate for audience!!!)
- Perfection!
- It was a very good production.
- Very good – fabulous!!!! Enjoyed the performance, Chewy was fab and the little elf!
- So proud of having three family members in the cast! Well done to Martin, the cast and behind the scene helpers. Thank you.
- Great fun, loved it.
- An amazing show, different type of ages.
- Well done all! Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!
- Well done everyone. Happy Christmas to all.
- Really enjoyed it – will come again.
- Very professional performance. Very well done everyone!
- Seats are wonderful. What a great afternoon you all just go on getting better and better. Thank you. Can’t wait for the next show.
- A really wonderful afternoon’s entertainment where both performers and audience really are enjoying themselves and it shows! Roll on ‘Allo ‘Allo. Also, very good value.
- 7/12/08: A wonderful production, which we thoroughly enjoyed. A lot of hard work well worthwhile. We particularly liked the Huey and Chewy numbers. We tried to get a standing ovation, but did not get the support. Break a leg!
- Absolutely fab! Truly original in every aspect. If venue was larger then more people could experience this unforgettable adaptation! Walt Disney should have used Huey & Chewy!! Please reserve tickets for next year!
- I think it’s really, really good and we’re so very proud of our Aunty Viv and Uncle Jon. Everyone was brilliant.
- Very professional production enjoyed it enormously.
- Excellent performance. Well done.
- Moffitt was great! Tilly was ace!
- Sweetie lady really good.
- Brilliant! Funny singing. Cheers for the sweets!
- Tilly Murphy is awesome!! Moffitt ‘oh yeah’!!
- We thought it was great – will look out next year. Chewy & Huey were great – should have made it into the programme!
Snow White 2008
A Poem by Kathy Szrama
WHEN MARTIN FIRST PROPOSED HIS SCRIPT ABOUT A YEAR AGO
WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON SO IT WAS TOUCH AND GO
HOWEVER THINGS WERE SORTED AND HE SOON GOT THE GREEN LIGHT
SO CHRISTMAS PANTO 2008 WAS GOING TO BE SNOW WHITE
AUDITIONS TOOK PLACE EARLY ON AND EVERYONE HAD FUN
BUT FINDING SEVEN TINY PEEPS SEEMED EASIER SAID THAN DONE
BUT WE'VE GOT SO MUCH TALENT WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVISE
PLUS IT'S FUN TO SET THE AUDIENCE UP FOR A REALLY BIG SURPRISE
THE DIRECTOR GOT THE CREW ON BOARD PLUS HIS 'MR MUSIC' MATE
THEN GLYNNIE KNOCKED ‘EM INTO SHAPE TIL THE SINGING SOUNDED GREAT
AMONGST ALL THIS OUR MARTIN WAS SEWING FOR DEAR LIFE
HE'S SUCH A FLAIR FOR HAUTE COUTURE HE'D MAKE A LOVELY WIFE
AFTER WEEKS OF DEDICATION AND HOURS OF MAKING GOOD
THIS SHOW WAS READY FOR THE ROAD AND EVERYONE FELT GOOD
SO BEFORE YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SAY 'MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL’ '
THE MUSIC PLAYED THE LIGHTS WENT DOWN AND IT WAS CURTAIN CALL
WELL MRS BRITCHES ‘9 TO 5’ JUST FILLED US ALL WITH GLEE
WHILE MR BUDSONS SMOOTH APPROACH WAS REALLY LUVVERLY
(OH YEAH!)
HE INTRODUCED US TO MELLORS WHO HAD SUCH GREEN FINGERED FLAIR
BUT NEEDED TO QUIT SMOKING, HAVE A SHAVE AND CUT HIS HAIR
MIND YOU HE SANG A WICKED VERSION OF SUZIE'S DEVILGATE DRIVE
WITH THOSE GORGEOUS ROCK CHIC DIVAS – WHO COULD REALLY JUMP AND JIVE
THE MAID WAS SUCH A CUTIE WHO DANCED DAINTY IN THE WOOD
SO ALL IN ALL THE PALACE STAFF JUST PROVED TO BE SO GOOD
WELL THAT BRINGS ME ON TO QUEENIE WHO'S A MINX AS YOU COULD TELL
BUT SHE SANG HER LITTLE HEART OUT AND FOUGHT THE CROWD OFF WELL
AND AS FOR HER DEAR DYNO ROD -WELL HE SEEMED AN HONEST SORT
BUT I THINK RATHER THAN PASS THE JAM HE'D PREFER TO PASS THE PORT
JOE WAS RATHER HANDSOME AND COULD BE A PRINCE SOME DAY
HE JUST NEEDED TO STOP DITHERING AND LEARN TO HAVE HIS SAY
COS SNOW WHITE IS A SWITCHED ON GIRLIE
A STEP DAUGHTER THINGY FAIR
WHO WON THE HEARTS OF EVERYONE WITH HER GORGEOUS CURLY HAIR
NEXT WE MET THE PINSTRIPED DUDE WHO ANSWERED TO THE NAME OF HUEY
HE SAW HIMSELF AS A GANGSTER TYPE BUT TOOK GOOD CARE OF CHEWY
WHO I MIGHT ADD WAS HIS LITTLE BRUV - A CHEEKY STREETWISE CHAV
WHO LOVED HIS SWEETS, HIS OLDER BRUV AND THEY GAVE US SUCH A LAUGH
WE SAW GORGEOUS FAIRY DANCERS WITH A HANDSOME WOODLAND BOY
WHO SANG A RAINBOW BEAUTIFULLY AND FILLED US ALL WITH JOY
NEXT WE MET THE SEVEN DWARFS - AN ENTERTAINING LOT
WITH SLEEPY'S SPECTACULAR ENTRANCE AND DEAR SNEEZY FULL OF SNOT
DOPEY PROVED QUITE CLEVER AS BASHFUL BLUSHED AWAY
WHILE HAPPY KEPT US ALL UP BEAT AND TRIED TO SAVE THE DAY
AS FOR GRUMPY HE HUFFED AND PUFFED BUT LOOKED GORGEOUS AT THE PALACE
AS DID DOC THE STRUMMING QUACK WHO SHOWED NO SIGN OF MALICE
THOSE PALACE GUARDS WERE QUITE A HOOT WITH THEIR STRAWBERRY BLOWING GAG
CAGNEY AND LACEY KEEP IT UP! - THAT QUEEN SEEMS QUITE A DRAG!
NOW THAT'S THE CAST TAKEN CARE OF SO LET'S COME ONTO THE CREW
WELL GLYN'S MUSICAL TALENTS GOT US TAPPING RIGHT ON CUE
WHILE LORENS COREOGRAPHY WAS SO PLEASING TO THE EYE
JACK AND TOM'S FAB LIGHTING PLOT PUT RAINBOWS IN THE SKY
THANKS TO ASH'S EXPERTISE WE HARDLY HAD A GLITCH
OOH APART FROM THAT SMALL OVERLOAD THAT TRIPPED A LITTLE SWITCH
JILLY'S SET AS ALWAYS WAS JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE
AND DEL AND MARTIN MADE THE MOVES AS SLICK AS THEY COULD BE (DESPITE BEING SHOT WITH A POISONED DART)
LYN THE PROMPT LOOKED AT THAT SCRIPT FOR HOURS AND HOURS EACH WEEK
BUT THANKFULLY SHE'S PLEASED TO SAY SHE HARDLY HAD TO SPEAK
THE MAKE UP GIRLS HAVE DONE US PROUD AND PAINTED UP THE CAST
WHILE TIM, CORIN AND ALL THE GANG HAVE POURED THOSE DRINKS SO FAST
WE HAD SMOOTH TALKING SALESMEN WHO SOLD RAFFLE TICKETS GALORE
AND LOVELY MEET AND GREETERS WITH THEIR PROGRAMMES AT THE DOOR
THIS BRINGS ME TO THE FINAL TWO THE FIRST OF WHOM IS JEN
PRODUCER, TICKETS, GDB - WELL DONE GAL YOU SCORE TEN!
AND FINALLY THANKSTO MARTIN WHO'S THE REASON WE'RE ALL HERE
Snow White Colouring Competition
It was a tough job but we managed to pick 4 runners-up and a winner of our colouring competition! Thanks to all who entered, they we're all great!
And the winner is:
Davina MacIntyre-Stewart, Aged 13, Mark Way School
And here are the 4 runners-up:
Joseph Sunil, Aged 7, Abotts Ann School
(Click to enlarge)
Rebecca Robin, Aged 5, Balksbury School
(Click to enlarge)
Tyler Carey-Hodges, Aged 4, Wherwell School
(Click to enlarge)
Vinnie McHoul, Aged 6, Clatford School
(Click to enlarge)
An Interview with Snow White Director Martin Gillott:
When did you join the Burdock Valley Players? What was your first production with B.V.P.?
I joined B.V.P.in 1998 and immediately took on the part as Stationmaster in Arnold Ridley’s classic The Ghost Train. It was a great part to play and I remember being pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm and professional attitude of my fellow cast and production crew.
How did you get involved with Am-dram?
My first involvement in Am-dram goes way back into my distant past during the Seventies. At that time I was a professional wrestler. During the end of the seventies the bottom was about to fall out of British wrestling and the powers that be were about to take it off television. Along with two of my mates we applied for the Infamous Equity Card. And decided to give acting a try. After time spent at drama school I decided not to pursue this career but in order to keep my Hand in I joined my first amateur group. Needless to say my two mates stuck at it and eventually became fairly well known in the field of television and cinema.
What do you think is the best thing about acting?
The best thing about acting in my opinion is that you can take a character from a written piece and turn it into a living person. The greatest challenge of course is to breathe life into it and to make the person you have created, believable. I could go on and on about this question but this subject could (And indeed has) filled many a book.
Martin, you’re directing the Burdock Valley Players Christmas production called Snow White. You also wrote the script. What gave you the inspiration to write it?
I’m not sure that the writing of Snow White could be classed as inspirational. I had previously been in a pantomime written by the director and thought that I could do better, so I guess it was down to big headedness rather than inspiration. As to whether it was better, you would have to ask the audience.
When (what year) did you write it?
I wrote Snow White in 1994 and staged it the following year.
Have you written any other scripts?
Yes. I have also written a further eight pantomimes plus two musicals and all have been performed on the amateur stage.
What do you get out of writing and what motivates you?
Anyone who writes for the amateur stage will have their own reasons for doing so. My reasons are many fold, the main one being the “Buzz” that you get from seeing your work performed on stage in front of a paying audience. Hearing their laughter and seeing their enjoyment is priceless. In addition to this, having your own friends bringing your creation to life before your very eyes is a wonderful feeling.
You’re directing Snow White, what do you think makes a good director?
That’s a difficult one. I suppose it depends on the production you are working on. To direct a pantomime successfully does not mean that you will be able to direct Shakespeare. However, in my opinion, you need to follow three rules. (1) Know your subject and what you want to achieve. (2) Preparation. There is no substitute for forward planning. There are always problems with every production so try and eliminate as many as you can before you start. (3) Know the abilities and limitations of your cast. Remember, if they are not happy with your directing then you won’t be happy with their efforts.
When was the last time it was performed and by whom?
Snow White was last performed in 1999 by an Am-dram group in the midlands who had paid me royalties (The royalties made from pantomimes always went to the children’s hospice) although I do not know how it went.
What do you like best-directing, acting, writing or working behind the scenes?
My views on this has changed over the years. At the beginning I preferred to be on the stage and I must say that I have been very fortunate with the roles I have been given. As I get older I now confine my activities mainly to back stage work which has its own reward. But to be truthful, I do love directing. I still have unfulfilled ambitions in that field but who knows. As for writing, I still dabble.
What do you think makes a successful production?
Without a doubt, a successful production is down to the enthusiasm and general attitude of the cast and crew which is more often than not brought about by the director. I believe that you must enjoy rehearsals. That is why we do it and if you have a good show at the end then that is a bonus, the icing on the cake.
Are you writing anything at the moment?
Yes I have two projects on the go at the moment. The first is a three act play about a bunch of Archaeologists (not as boring as it sounds) the second is a book about film and television locations in various villages.
What age range is your Snow White cast?
The age range of Snow White spans four generations which is something that I am particularly proud of. I don’t know of anything else that achieves this. We have four generations all gathered together for the same thing, each one helping the other to achieve the same end result. I’m sure there is a message for mankind in there somewhere.
Do you have a favourite character in Snow White and why?
In fact I have two favourite characters in this version. Huey & Chewy. They can be as funny as you want them to be and appeal to audiences of all ages. If this were ever to have made the professional stage then these roles would have Been played by the comedy duo of the day. i.e. Cannon & Ball, Morecambe & Wise, Little & Large etc.
Would you liken yourself to one of the dwarfs? If so, which one and why?
What a lovely question. I guess that those who know me would tell you that
I’m sometimes Happy, Often Grumpy, Frequently Sleepy, Never Bashful
But usually Dopey. If I were to choose one myself I would have to have a
Dwarf number eight called Stumpy. I’ll let you work that one out for yourself.