Brid’s favourite little venue is adding something new to its ever-growing programme.

From January, the popular theatre on West Street will be running dementia friendly film shows on the first Monday of each month.

Chairman, Mike Sheldon, said:
‘Current figures report 850,000 people in the UK have dementia and the number is increasing– so there’s a definite audience for screenings that are adapted for people with this condition. ‘

Having followed advice from other venues that have taken similar steps, as well as guidance from the Alzheimer’s Society, these screenings are delivered in a way designed address the audience’s particular needs.

Low lights are kept on throughout the performance and the bar area next door to the auditorium will be a ‘quiet zone’ for anyone who wants to use it at any time during the screening.

All the films shown will be musicals – and the audience can sing along if they wish.

The Spotlight screenings will be free to those with the condition and their carer – and will also include free tea, coffee and biscuits served during the interval.

We’re fortunate in that the Spotlight is run by a dedicated team of volunteers and we plan to cover the cost of running the event, in part, from the proceeds of our famous Spotlight raffle , which takes place at most of our performances. We felt strongly that we should fund these film shows as part of our commitment to the community’, explained Mike.

Volunteer, Maria Prchlik, who will be part of the team helping at the special screenings said:
‘Many of us know someone whose life has been affected by dementia. It’s important that those with the condition keep on doing the things they love as long as they can and going to the pictures is one experience that The Spotlight intends to help people enjoy as long as possible. ‘

The first film to be shown in the dementia friendly screening series will be on Monday 7 January, starting at 12.45pm – to around 3.30.00pm.

The Spotlight is fully accessible, with ramped access to both the building and the auditorium. However, steps need to be negotiated beyond the first row of seating.

Thanks to Maria Prchlik

Spotlight Theatre’s feel good carol concert cheers locals.

Town councillors and community police officers joined residents of West Street, Bridlington in a special carol concert held at The Spotlight Theatre.

The street has experienced its share of misfortune over the past couple of months: break-ins, a major fire and a bomb scare have all disrupted life on the street and, understandably, upset those who live nearby.
So the free concert was designed to bring together neighbours and friends, lift their spirits and deliver a bit of early Christmas cheer.

Mike Sheldon, Chairman of the Spotlight said:
‘It’s not been the best of times recently along West Street so this was our way of saying ‘Chin Up’. Getting together can make tough times a little easier to bear. And as we’re at the heart of the community, we thought we’d do what we do best - put on a show and invite the neighbours’.

The enthusiastic audience was treated to the Bridlington Excelsior Silver Band playing a selection of seasonal music in a sing-a-long carol concert and they were joined by the cast of the Spotlight’s Old Time Music Hall show, prior to their dress rehearsal. And as the music filled the theatre, someone commented that it was a relief to hear the sound of singing instead of police sirens.

Mince pies and hot drinks were served in the bar afterwards, courtesy of Tesco, Costcutter, Spotlight friends and volunteers. Youngsters also received a selection box each.

Mike continued:
‘We are extremely grateful to everyone who helped us create a truly happy evening of entertainment. And we were delighted to be able to make a donation to the Excelsior band’s funds to show our appreciation. It was a glorious night - we not only raised the roof, we raised lots of smiles too’.

Thanks to Maria Prchlik

READING FOR THE OCTOBER PLAY
'CHESHIRE CATS' by Gail Young
Friday 20th July in the bar at Spotlight at 7.30pm

Cast:7 females 3 males (but can be adjusted for more if needed)

Grown women, aching feet and heaving bosoms! Follow the Cheshire Cats team as they speedwalk their way to fundraising success in the London Moonwalk. Hilary, Siobhan, Yvonne, Vicky and Maggie are attempting to walk 13 miles across the capital in record time in their decorated bras and posh new trainers, but the 6th member of the team doesn't seem to meet the physical criteria! Cheshire Cats is a cross between a girls night out and a real mission to support a cause close to many hearts, with plenty of laughs and a few tears along the way.

Brigadoon

Directed by Pauline Pope MD Geoff Allanach

Spotlight Theatre, Bridlington

1st May 2018

Now and then it’s good to see an older show and to be reminded that many of them contain some lovely music. Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon is one such show and all credit to the society for taking on the challenges it contains. Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas from New York are on holiday in the Scottish Highlands and stumble across the mythical village of Brigadoon that appears once every hundred years.

Tommy, already engaged to Jane back home, immediately falls for Fiona MacKeith and Jeff is pursued by Meg Brockie. Fiona’s sister, Jean, is about to marry Charlie Cameron, much to the annoyance of Harry Ritchie, who threatens to leave the village thus bringing an end to the magic and making the village disappear.

John Allanach and Lara McLeod were a very good pairing as Tommy and Fiona and some of their scenes together were very moving as was ‘The Heather on the Hill’. As Jeff, Dave Duffill extracted all the comedy he could from the character and he was well supported by Maggie Davies as a very lively Meg, her ‘The Love of My Life’ being very entertaining.

Rick Windley threw himself into the role of Charlie and I also liked Richard Mainprize who was a strong Andrew MacKeith, Fiona’s father. There was another powerful performance by Graham Beeston as Mr Murdoch, the Dominie. This is a very wordy part, with most of it coming in one scene, and he held his accent very well. I enjoyed Bethany Sanderson as Jean and Sebastian Carvill-Belt as Harry.

The society is not alone in having very few men, making a show like this pretty difficult for the Director, however their small group here worked very hard.

Staging was fine and very good use was made of the big screen at the back of the stage which I was seeing for the first time in full use – very impressive and it added to the emotion towards the end of the show.

Musical accompaniment was excellent on keyboard and costumes, lighting and sound were in keeping with the fairy tale mood.

This was a nice evening.

Tony Harris

NODA North East District 3 Representative

Catherine hails from Hull and trained with Royal Ballet and at Birmingham Drama School.

She has spent most of her life working in West End theatre, in shows including ‘Hello Dolly!’, ‘42nd Street’, ‘Me & My Girl’, ‘Follies’, ‘Budgie, the Musical’, ‘West Side Story’, and ‘Cats’. On tour, she has played leading roles in ‘Gypsy’, ‘Oklahoma!’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Scrooge’, ‘Blithe Spirit’, and ‘Babes in Arms’, amongst many other roles.

She was a member of the New Shakespeare Company in London and in the Middle East, and has travelled the world onboard P&O’s state of the art cruise ships, as Principal Performer in The Stadium Theatre Company & with her own Cabaret.

Her T.V. credits include Casualty, The Bill, Doctors, Family Affairs, The Royal Variety Performance, 2.4 Children, and Brush Strokes. She also presented the Children’s BBC T.V. series Playdays for four years.

Catherine has released her own C.D. ‘Songtime’ and runs her own cabaret company, Songtime Entertainment. She is a regular after-dinner speaker with her presentation ‘A Life Treading the Boards’, an accomplished cabaret artist, and she also teaches drama and performance skills workshops.
To find out more about Catherine please visit her website www.songtime.biz

Jay is currently studying guitar at the Leeds College of Music and is just about to graduate. Outside the lecture hall, he teaches music, directs musical theatre, and arranges and composes for groups across the UK, from funky brass bands to choirs.

An alumnus of the National Youth Orchestra, Jay now performs diversely as a soloist and with various bands, playing guitar, double bass, piano & singing. He & Catherine have been working together for the past year.

Catherine has recently returned to Yorkshire, having spent most of her adult life living & working in and around London in West End Theatre & TV.

Since returning to her roots, she has become well known as a Presentational and After Dinner Speaker, giving talks to local groups about her life as a professional actress in show business, with her Presentation, ‘Catherine Terry-A Life Treading the Boards’.

She has her own Cabaret business, Songtime Entertainment & is kept busy performing Cabaret for Charity Events and parties in Yorkshire, and has recently performed her one woman concert with her pianist, Jay Taylor, for the Hornsea Music Society, as part of their season.

Local audiences have recently seen Catherine performing in the Bridlington Spa Theatre seasonal promenade production, ‘Changing Rooms at Christmas’, which was performed at Burton Constable Hall, Burton Agnes Hall & Sewerby Hall throughout the Festive Season.

Catherine is thrilled to have been asked to run a short series of workshops at the Spotlight Theatre in Bridlington.

“…Spotlight is a wonderful little theatre, and it’s great to have the opportunity to bring some theatre workshops here for the local children. We will be running a series of sessions on Saturday mornings to give local children, aged 7 to 13, the chance to experience varied aspects of theatre. We’ll be looking at working on Theatre Craft, Musical Theatre, Improvisation, Singing, Script Work, Movement & Basic Dance, with a short presentation of what we have covered in the final session. The first session (Saturday 3rd March) is a taster session to give the children an idea of what to expect. If they enjoy that, they can then sign up for a block of six more sessions in the following weeks. Hopefully it will be lots of fun & also help not only with their artistic talents, but with their confidence and life-building skills…”

2 hour Workshops every Saturday morning (except Easter Saturday 31st March) starting Saturday 3rd March until Saturday 21st April.

10.30am to 12.30pm.
£5 per session, taster session on March 3rd FREE BUT LIMITED AVAILABILITY

For details & to register for the free taster session please
email: catherine@songtime.biz or telephone: 07971 890123

January 2018

Courtesy of Bridlington Free Press