This review of FT's activities appeared in FT Newsletter 1 of August 1999

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A CRITIC'S ACCLAIM

 

   The onset of the new Filkins Theatre season gives me the chance to write a several –fold appreciation; item No.1, surprisingly, is that this season coincides with the Millennium/Centenary celebrations of the birth of Carterton and therefrom the ability of Amelia Carter to fund the Filkins Village Hall, incorporating  a stage  and ancillary rooms, (a further happy present-day coincidence here is that of John Cambridge’s dual role of Hall C. in C. and of an actor on its boards!)

   In my time my next appreciation must go to the Heslewoods, the Harrisons, the Assiters, the hereinbeforementioned John Cambridge, the Irwin-Singers, the W.I. et al who had the enterprise to take advantage of the presence of a stage etc., despite its limitations, and put on plays - And how successfully! 'Gaslight' I shall never forget!  Nor Reggie Heslewood’s 'King Cole'!

   Which brings me to the stage hands and theatre staff and the immense appreciation due to Eileen Wise and Co., Sandy and Edna Saunders, Jane and Richard Martin, Suzanne Dore, Michael Schultz... and many more.

   Next, how lucky we are that Pam and Co., have brought on another tranche of thespians to entertain us – right up to last Christmas and on to next Christmas!

   Further, in the context of continuity, in the August 'Link', I saw, and very humbly appreciated, two off-shoots of Filkins Theatre in play reading and children’s workshop.

   Do all the participants realise how worthwhile their personal activities are to themselves  (and to their audiences) by taking part as against supine goggling! 

   Altruistically, what a wonderful social asset is Filkins Theatre!   

ES

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For the sake of record: Amelia Carter had nothing whatsoever to do with Carterton, which was named for a speculative developer: William Carter of Hampshire who, by the by, never actually visited the town he built.