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FILKINS THEATRE... Founded 1986
'FT PRODUCTIONS'
2007
'The Queen Must Die'
February 2007
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A conundrum answered...
The Programme (above, front page) says: "20th Anniversary Production", but Filkins Theatre's 20th anniversary was in 2006... So why was 'The Queen Must Die' staged in February 2007?
Jeremy Irwin-Singer brings us the answer: "The Queen Must Die was going to be performed in late 2006 but there was a problem with casting. We had planned to have a young person in the cast as one of the boys but it didn’t prove possible, and we cast Christopher Harrison instead the following February."
Chris Harrison was in the original 1986 FT production of 'Hay Fever', and was a stalwart in many productions since. And was there ever such a good example of the Magic of Theatre? For in 2007, when he played an 11-year-old boy, Chris Harrison was over 90!
Christopher Martin Haydon Harrison, FT remembers and salutes you.
Let the Greasepaint roar forever.
'FT 'X' Factor'
September 2007
From Parish Pump of May 2007
HAVE YOU GOT THE 'X' FACTOR?
Do you want the opportunity to perform on stage? Filkins Theatre is planning to present our very own ‘X Factor’ in late September. Any participants wishing to perform, or offer their services as (qualified, experienced or just plain mean and unpleasant, harsh but fair) critics, do please contact me. We need to know probable numbers and if there would need to be different age groups.
If you are interested get in touch now
Daniel Porter
From Parish Pump of November 2007
FILKINS 'X' FACTOR
As I dragged myself away from the World 20 Twenty cricket semi-final I had little idea what to expect from Filkins Theatre Club’s inaugural ‘X Factor’. With the adult population preferring to keep their talents well hidden it was left to the youngsters to rise to the challenge. With no sign of Simon Cowell or even Richard Martin (stuck at the airport), Nathan McCree, Bronwen Mills and Michele Heath were recruited to judge the diverse range of acts which organiser Daniel Porter had assembled.
Emily Redman bravely began the evening with a rendition of ‘Ironic’ by Alanis Morisette. While the judging may have lacked the cutting edge of its TV counterpart there was plenty of good advice and encouragement for Emily and the other acts.
Next up a local rock band ‘Arms Against’ certainly changed the mood with their own composition, ‘Welcome to Hell’ . While not a strong contender for my own Desert Island Discs, the musicianship clearly impressed the judges. With mindboggling juxtaposition the evening continued with Bob & Bobette’s ‘I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts’ which may not catapult them from Filkins to Broadway, or even Broadwell, but proved that vaudeville is not dead.
More mainstream entertainment followed with Wendy and Elizabeth Browne’s interpretation of ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ followed later by Wendy’s Jerome Kern’s solo, ‘Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine’. The younger age group was well represented by Stacy and Jade’s lively version of ‘Lollipop’ by Mika, and Bryony Gibb’s singing an impressive, unaccompanied version of ‘Green Green Grass of Home’. DoDo Miller entered into the spirit of the event with her version of ‘Baby Got Back’, not a strong contender for the top prize but a challenge for the judges and entertainment for us.
The judges then retired to consider their verdict which must have been a daunting task given the variety of acts on show. Eventually they decided that Emily Redman came in third place, Bryany Gibbs took the runners-up spot and, given the age profile of the judges, it came as a wonderful surprise to winning act, that Filkins X Factor was won by Arms Against.
The top three acts are being put forward to David Seaton for consideration for studio time to develop their talents. The Theatre Club and Daniel Porter are to be congratulated for providing a showcase for local talent and plan to repeat the event in the near future. So there’s no excuse, get practising, hone your talents and be ready for Filkins X Factor 2008.
Alan Heath
'Babes in The Wood'
November 2007
