Berwick Opera Berwick and District Amateur Operatic Society

October 2013

Inside This Issue

Calamity Jane Future Events Subs Special Mentions Contact Us Pianist Wanted! 2 3 4 4 4 4

Rootin and Tootin 2014 Production Social Calendar Dibley Do Thanks Fundraising Membership Info Advertise Here! Contact Us

This is it, only a week to go before the curtain goes up on our latest production. It seems only yesterday when, back in June, the cast was finalised and rehearsals started. But here we are with what we hope will be another successful show. Lots of hard work has been ploughed in to what you will see on the stage of The Maltings and the result wont disappoint. The Vicar of Dibley was first aired on television in 1994. Written by Richard Curtis & Paul Mayhew-Archer, the subject matter followed the decision of the Anglican Church to ordain women priests. It rapidly became a very successful sitcom. The Vicar of Dibley is among the most successful sitcom in the digital era, receiving multiple British Comedy Awards, two International Emmys & was a multiple British Academy Award nominee. In 2004, it placed third in Britain's best sitcom. Tickets have been on sale for a while now, but if you havent got them yet dont hang about. You can either go in to buy them, give them a ring or indeed purchase them by visiting their website. www.maltingsberwick.co.uk Join us and the parishioners of Dibley as they eagerly await the arrival of their new vicar.

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Berwick Opera

Calamity JaneOur 2014 Show!

Here we are again (doesn't time fly!) about to start rehearsals for our big musical production of Calamity Jane which will be on at The Maltings, 26-29 March 2014! We've staged this show a few times now (over our 90+ year history) and had some great Calams including Jennifer Wilson, Dilys Guthrie and Diane Renner... could you be the fourth one?! Come along to the first rehearsal on Wed 13 Nov 7 pm at The Community Centre in Room 6 just off the carpark - a change to our usual rehearsal space in the main hall. This time Mark Pentecost, our Director, wants to inject a bit of sassy burlesque into the show. Any of you ladies up for it?? Wait 'til you see the set he has in mind to be designed by the supremely talented Jim Herbert! And Ron Creasey, MD, is back! To dazzle us with his "Golden Garter" and! Sheila Bradford and Lisa Summers are choreographing jointly and can't wait to see your nifty footwork! Chorus rehearsals will be weekly on Wednesdays 7 pm and Principal rehearsals will be weekly on Mondays at 7.30 pm. Please let us know if you already have a Calamity Jane lib or score as we have to buy them this year so are trying to borrow as many as possible

Its gonna be a rootin, tootin, shootin show!

Berwick Opera

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Future Events!
7th9th November at The Maltings, Berwick upon Tweed Join us and the parishioners of Dibley as they prepare to welcome their new vicar. See all of your favourite characters from the highly acclaimed television series. Tickets on sale NOW from The Maltings www.maltingsberwick.co.uk or telephone01289 330999 We have decided to reinstate our annual Christmas Dinner, this year it is on 6th December at the Cross Inn, Paxton. If there is enough interest we will organise a bus to transport everyone. This event is open to all members and husband/wife/partners not just the ladies! To get an idea of numbers, please email Val Sanders at; valsanders1@sky.com as soon as possible. 21st December at Tesco, Berwick upon Tweed It will be the last Saturday before Christmas, come and inject some festive cheer into those harassed shoppers as they dash about buying their last minute sprouts! We hope to run 2 singing sessions, 10.3012pm and then 23.30pm, if you would like to put your name down, then let us know. Hot drinks and mince pies kindly provided by Tesco. Our fundraising committee are on the case organising some lovely activities to make money to go towards Calamity Jane. Other possible events coming up are a Bingo night, Silent Auction with Cocktails, Christmas hamper raffle and Race Night so look out for further details...and if you have a good fundraising idea please speak to Val Sanders on the fundraising committee.

The Dibley Do, which was held on the 26th October was a great success and we hope everyone who attended had a fabulous time. The Society would like to thank everyone involved for their time, effort and generosityif it weren't for you, it would not of gone ahead. Fundraising is an important way for the Society to raise money. If you would like to host an event, or have any fundraising ideas, then please let us know and we will pass it on to the Fundraising Committee.

Important Information About Subs!

We can't afford to put on our musical productions unless we ask everyone to pay a yearly subscription of 30 or 15 for those in full time education. The full sub actually works out at a measly 1.50 per week from November til March (that can include 2, or even 3 lovely rehearsals per week!) and helps pay towards rehearsal space, costume hire, set hire, theatre hire, orchestra hire, oh the list is endless...it all costs thousands of pounds to stage a big production. Luckily we have a very committed committee of people who do a huge amount behind the scenes to save the society money but even with all this help our productions lose money each year. Most people are brilliant at coughing up but each year we do have a few bad debtors (!) so this year to make it fair for everybody, we will be asking for a 5 nonrefundable deposit to be paid at the first full cast rehearsal after the auditions, then the outstanding amount to be paid in full by the first rehearsal after the Christmas/New Year break. If anyones sub is not forthcoming by that date, we will be shouting....NEXT!

Contact Us
Email berwickopera@yahoo.co.uk Telephone 07935 707037 (Louise WoodSecretary) Find Us On FaceBook Join Us On Twitter @BerwickOpera Website www.berwickopera.co.uk

Special Mentions
Pianist Wanted! We need an extra rehearsal pianist, to help out when needed, who is willing to play sometimes on either Monday or Wednesday evenings (and possibly some Sundays nearer the show). Margaret Rowland has kindly agreed to be our main pianist, and Rena Telfer on an occasional basis but we really need another pianist as well so that our other two girls dont get overloaded! Please let us know of anyone who might be willing. Fundraising Our fundraising committee are on the case organising some lovely activities to make money to go towards Calamity Jane. Possible events coming up are a Bingo night, Silent Auction with Cocktails, Christmas hamper raffle, Race Night so look out for further details...and if you have a good fundraising idea please speak to Val Sanders on the fundraising committee. And Finally.. We aim to distribute this newsletter on a regular basis. If you, or anyone you know would like to receive a copy, advertise, include an article or a Special Mention, then please let us know. Items to be submitted by email please. Unlike other organisations, we really want to provide advertising at an affordable rate. Just ask us for further details.