Dolman Theatre Hosts World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

The dark Irish comedy
'The Beauty Queen of Leenane'
is one of the plays visitors
will see in rehearsal.
(Photo: Phil Mansell)

The Dolman Theatre is playing its part in a UK-wide fund-raising event by taking part in the world’s biggest coffee morning on Saturday 28 September.

As well as coffee and cake, visitors can enjoy stalls selling a host of gift items and also take a tour of the theatre where they will go backstage to watch Newport Playgoers rehearse ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ and other plays.

“The is part of a nationwide event that started in 1990, when a local fundraising committee decided to hold a coffee morning where people came along to meet and mingle – and to donate the cost of their coffee to Macmillan Cancer Support,” explained Playgoer Steve Bissex-Williams.

“Since then this annual event has raised over £75 million in total for Macmillan Cancer Support. We hope the people of Newport will come along and support in this great fund-raising event,” he added.

The event invites people across the UK to hold a coffee corning where donations are made on the day to to MacMillan. In 2012 115,000 people signed up for coffee mornings, raising a record £15million.

Steve Bissex-Williams who has organised
the coffee morning at the Dolman Theatre
(Photo: Phil Mansell)

Playgoers Get Set to Tackle ‘The 39 Steps’

David Constant as Richard Hannay
(Photo: Phil Mansell)

Newport Playgoers are all set to start their 90^th season with a bang – by presenting the action-packed, fun-filled stage version of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic ‘The 39 Steps’.

Imagine four actors playing 139 characters in 100 minutes and you get an idea of the mystery, madness and mayhem involved. 

Audiences will find plenty of thrills and spills as they follow the adventures of stiff upper lipped Richard Hannay as he flees from spies, the police and killers in his quest to answer the question: what is the secret of the 39 Steps?

Hannay - a tongue-in-cheek 1930s James Bond - woos every attractive lady in sight and jumps through windows and onto trains as he tries to escape villainous enemy agents.

Richard Hannay (David Constant) escapes from

 the  villains  (Richard Dymond and Jes Hynes) 

whilst  handcuffed  to Pamela (Ros Jones-Griffiths)

(Photo: Phil Mansell)

Anabella Schmitt (Ros Jones-Griffiths)

 is the spy who discovers the 

secret of the 39 steps.

(Photo: Phil Mansell)

“This is a really fast-paced play that has enjoyed considerable success in the West End,” said the play’s director Lynn Phillips.

”Anyone who has seen Hitchcock’s 1935 film will be sure to love it as we take audiences to a variety of locations, including a train, the wilds of Scotland and the London Palladium.”

Enemy agents (Richard Dymond and 

Jes Hynes) in hot pursuit.

(Photo: Phil Mansell)

‘The 39 Steps’ adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the film by Alfred Hitchcock is at the Dolman Theatre from 11^t– 14 September at 7.15 pm, with an extra matinee performance on the Saturday at 2.30 pm. 

To book tickets call 01633 263670 or visit www.dolmantheatre.co.uk.

Messages from Helen Mirren and Lynda Bellingham

When I heard that Newport Playgoers would be staging 'Calendar Girls' I thought, as leader of the publicity team, that it would be a good idea to write to the stars of both the film and stage versions asking them to send good luck messages.

First to reply was Helen Mirren which was a promising start. Next came an autographed photo from one of my favourite actresses, Lynda Bellingham, who also wrote a personal message - which was even better.

Personal messages also came from Annette Crosbie, Penelope Wilton, John Alderton, Anita Dobson and Charlie Dimmock.

Tim Firth, who wrote both the film and stage versions, sent a lovely card with a special message. It's good to know that such, famous - and busy - people take the time to reply to those who write to them.