This November, something special is coming to The Borough Theatre. On the 14th and 15th, local amateur group, Abergavenny Theatre Group, are making a Borough Theatre comeback, and will be treading her boards once again with the Peter Shaffer Farce, Black Comedy.
Abergavenny Theatre Group was a well established amateur theatre group for nearly 50 years, until 2008 when they went into ‘hibernation’. Last November, after 5 years, they came back together to perform a special production of Carol Ann Duffys ‘Grimm Tales’ in the Melville Theatre, under the direction of William Gilbert. Following Grimm Tales success, they decided that it was the ideal time for them to ‘return home’ to the Borough.
Over the years, Abergavenny Theatre Group have put on a vast number of successful productions, ranging from Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and ‘Romeo & Juliet, to Terry Pratchett’s ‘Guards Guards’ and its sequel ‘Men At Arms’. They are nothing if not diverse! Other successful productions include ‘Comfort and Joy’, ‘Dick Barton’s Tango of Terror’, ‘Tartuffe’ and British Farce ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’.
First time director and previous cast member, Nick Watkins approached the theatre group not long after Grimm Tales to ask about directing their next production. After much research and many script readings, Black Comedy seemed the perfect play to bring to the Borough Theatre, and so rehearsals began. What makes Black Comedy so interesting is that it’s based on the Chinese convention of reversing light, so while the lights may be out for the show’s protagonist ‘Brindsley’, the audience will be very much enlightened.
Fundraising is especially important to the theatre group, and in December they are planning on hosting a World War 1 centenary lunch, with members providing entertainment throughout the meal. Reading letters and poems, singing songs and perform short comedy skits, this is promising to be a special memorial of those who gave their lives in the ‘War to end all wars’.
Looking as far ahead as next year, the group has plans to put on their own version of Dracula, which is currently being written by professional story teller and puppeteer Fiona Angwin, who will also be directing. Fiona’s amazing puppets made their Abergavenny debut in Grimm Tales, telling the wonderful tale ‘The Bird, The Mouse and The Sausage’
Abergavenny Theatre Group is open to people from all walks of life. Whether you’ve been on the stage before or not, they warmly welcome all. With such a diverse group of members, they’re repertoire is fantastically varied, and their future is definitely looking bright.
If you’d like to find about more about joining Abergavenny Theatre Group, please get in touch with them via their Facebook or Twitter Pages: www.facebook.com/ATGyfenni and www.twitter.com/ATGyfenni
