The Swan is “a genuine community resource with a balanced programme”

by Site Admin on Thursday, November 22, 2007
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Newspapers, Other local arts, STAC news, Worcester Live

STAC member, Bob Churchill, and head of Worcester Live, Chris Jaeger, independently had letters printed in the Worcester Standard last week. Both were defending the Swan Theatre against the peculiar charge that it does not cater for a wide enough range of tastes, especially family audiences.

A letter in the Worcester Standard, 9th November (note: the page online is inaccurately dated as the subsequent Friday, the 16th), had complained that “what is on offer generally at the Swan theatre these days” is too often like the recent tour, Get Naked. (This was a nude a cappella performance by a troupe of male singers, though even this was aimed more at philosophizing about attitudes to the male body than simple lude entertainment.) These shows, Joan Ritchie argued, “are not suitable for a mixed age audience. It seems a shame that a theatre that was brought about by the people, for the people now only attracts limited audiences.” (Her letter is reproduced below.)

Bob Churchill and Chris Jaeger’s responses can be found online on the Standard’s Letters page for the 16th November (or in full below). Bob talks from the perspective of his “own theatrical experience in Worcester (acting) … with the STAC”, detailing the shows STAC have performed in the last year or so, many of which were suitable for a wide range of audiences. And he also mentions the STAC Children’s Theatre shows: “they are very popular, and, I’m proud to say, they cost just £1.50 a ticket. If that’s not inclusive I don’t know what is!”

Meanwhile Chris gave a similar rundown of shows from the broader perspective of the whole theatre, concluding that the Swan “is a genuine community resource with a balanced programme, If you choose not to come, that is your prerogative, but please don’t pretend that there is nothing here for mixed audiences. There is something here for everybody.”

All three letters are reproduced in full below.

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The New Skell

by Site Admin on Friday, October 12, 2007
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Newspapers, Other local arts, Personal, STAC news, Worcester Live

The Standard reports on a familiar face today.

Jared Thomas joined the Swan Theatre Amateur Company last year, first playing a love-sick Jack in Charley’s Aunt (alongside Keith Thompson and Bob Churchill who are both currently playing in Relatively Speaking) and then playing the lecherous best friend in Babysitting Calvin earlier this year. He has since played one of the “rude mechanicals” in the Invitation Company’s Midsummer Night’s Dream this summer.

And now… he is the new Skell, leading Worcester Live’s ghostbusting tours for children around the city.

The Standard article can be found online: “Ghostwalk starts up for new series of fright nights”. Also see the Worcester Live Children’s Ghostwalk page.

New Season at the Swan!

by Site Admin on Tuesday, October 9, 2007
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Children's Theatre, Production, STAC news, STAC productions

Princess Tania and the Wicked Witch kicked off a new season of STAC plays at the Swan this weekend. The first Children’s Theatre show of the 2007-2008 run had a fun cast and a great post-summer audience, including the usual 90% of children who all miraculously have birthdays to celebrate when they are called up on stage!

Next month… it’s Jill in the Box! Anyone interested in possibly performing for Children’s Theatre can make contact through the website and your email will be passed on to the Children’s Theatre organisers.

And tonight is the debut of Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking.

Building the set at the weekend

Another of Andy Hares’ marvellous sets is in place, and the backstage crew outnumber the cast by more than two to one, so it should all run smoothly… relatively speaking.

If you want to see what the set looks like now it’s finished — and discover just who lives at The Willows, Lower Pendon, Bucks — then buy a ticket! The box office as ever is 01905 611427 and the show runs from tonight until Saturday at 7.30pm at the Swan.

Worcester amdram stalwart dies in Portugal

by Site Admin on Thursday, August 23, 2007
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Newspapers, Other local arts, Personal, STAC news

Liz Brownridge, a former member of STAC and various other Worcester groups since 1972, has died while on holiday in Portugal, aged 59.

From the Worcester News, Monday:

Holiday death of amateur dramatic’s star

A STAR of Worcestershire’s theatre scene has died suddenly while on holiday.

Liz Brownridge, aged 59, was in Algarve, Portugal, with her husband David when she suffered a heart attack on Thursday, August 16.

A member of Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society (WODS) for 35 years, Mrs Brownridge will be remembered for her dedication to and passion for local amateur dramatics.

Bruce Wyatt, current secretary of WODS said, “She had contributed so much to maintaining the highest possible standards of performance with her enthusiasm on and off stage - there will be a huge gulf that will be impossible to fill.

“She will be sadly and greatly missed by many and our prayers and thoughts go out to David and her two step-daughters Vickie and Helen.”

Born in Hull, Yorkshire, Mrs Brownridge trained as a dancer from a young age. By the time she was 17 she had joined a local dance troupe and was involved with three operatic societies.

When she moved to Worcester in 1972 to work in the pathology laboratory of the former Royal Infirmary in Castle Street, she joined WODS, Kays Theatre Group and the Swan Theatre Amateur Company.

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Chris Isaac asks the big questions

by Site Admin on Wednesday, July 4, 2007
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Personal, STAC news

Chris Isaac, who played Bruce Delamitri in last week’s Popcorn, has written to the STAC blog in an attempt to raise some debate. Since it’s everyone’s company, his questions are reproduced below. Please feel free to leave comments on this entry in response.

Chris writes:

I would ask all theatre-goers, membership and those who are curious about the S.T.A.C.and what it does to write here.

What you would like to see performed?

What you want from theatre in the 21st century?

Do you think you would like to take part, acting, lighting, props making, scenery, stage-management etc, etc?

Do you think that theatre is too stuck up?

Is it relevant to your every day life?

Do you just want to be entertained or are you up for something more demanding?

Please tell us (STAC). We are your local theatre company and we are here for you, the community.

Worcester-under-Severn

by Site Admin on Thursday, June 28, 2007
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STAC news

Water is once again lapping up around the Swan Theatre, which boasts an excellent view from the bar across the flooded Worcester Race Course. The theatre’s old prop store (disused due to repeated flooding) must be underwater. But the venue itself including the entrance is a long way off the ground. So anyone unfamiliar with the building should be advised that there is nothing to worry about, and Popcorn is running every scheduled night. (Even though there is more rain on the way at the weekend!)

The Swan, as seen from across the flooded race course

STAC’s Frank Welbourne says “It is very unlikely that the water will actually enter the main doors of the theatre. The highest I have seen it is up to the top of the slip road leading to the car park. There will be water in the cellar below the bar and it may come up through the drains in the workshop, but I have never known it to stop a show.”

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STAC on Facebook and RemoteGoat.co.uk

by Site Admin on Wednesday, June 20, 2007
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Online, Publicity, STAC news

STAC has its own Group on popular social networking site Facebook.com: STAC (Swan Theatre Amateur Company) Group. There is also an Event for Popcorn.

Future STAC productions are also listed at a new event-based networking site, www.RemoteGoat.co.uk. The entry for Popcorn is here. The entry for One for the Road is here. The RemoteGoat page for the Swan Theatre is here.

STAC to attend Guildhall Arts day

by Site Admin on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
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Publicity, STAC news, STAC productions

The annual Arts Fair is this coming Saturday, 23rd June, at the Guildhall in Worcester city centre.

STAC will have a presence there as usual, promoting the company at large, including upcoming auditions for the October show (details coming soon).

Also some of the cast from Popcorn will be promoting the show, which begins a week today at the Swan! (STAC members have been encouraged to advertise the show and have received their own vouchers which can be exchanged for a free ticket on any night.)

The Arts Fair is free and covers all areas of the arts in Worcester. (The Worcester News preempts the event here.)

Welcome to our new website

by Site Admin on Saturday, May 19, 2007
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STAC news

This is the re-launched, re-located website of the Swan Theatre Amateur Company.

If you don’t already know who we are, you can read a brief introduction to our forty+ years dedicated to the arts in Worcester.

SwanTheatre.org will run a blog to keep you posted on:

• upcoming performances
• audition notices
• STAC news
• press coverage and reviews of our performances

Also, we will:

• maintain pages on our past performances
• link to local arts-related sites and news stories
• blog interviews, photos and updates on our rehearsals