Newport Actors All Set for Gwent Drama Festival

Stand-up comedy, spooks and suspicion are all part of the madcap mix when three of Newport’s leading amateur theatre groups take part in the Gwent Festival of One Act Plays at Blackwood Little Theatre on Friday 27^th  and Saturday 28^th  April.

Will Smith-Haddon as Yorick in 'Poor Yorick'
by Phil Mansell (PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL)

First on the bill is ‘Poor Yorick’ by local writer Phil Mansell. One of the plays featured in the recent highly successful No Holds Bard festival, this innovative comedy tells how Hamlet’s jester attempts to pioneer stand-up comedy but instead becomes embroiled in plans for revenge.

“It’s really great being able to take my play to another theatre and to compete in this prestigious drama competition,” said Phil. “My play opens the festival on the Friday night and we’re hoping for as good a response as when we performed it at the Dolman Theatre last month. The festival features six great plays, and with tickets priced at two for just £7 it offers a great night out for anyone who loves fresh and exciting new theatre.” 

PNG’s three witches: Charlotte Webb, Sian Elizabeth Pope and Clare Davies in 

‘In The Spirit of Things’ (PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL)

Following Phil’s play is another Newport drama group, Playgoers New Generation (PNG) who present ‘In the Spirit of Things’ by Steven Quantick. This is another comedy about “business unusual” at Incorporeal Incorporated, where the witches from Macbeth provide supernatural guidance to the mortal realm.

Dolman Youth Theatre members James Thomas, 

Emma Radmilovic, Ellie Tappin and Dana Symonds 

in ‘Bottom’s Dream’ (PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL)

On Saturday Dolman Youth Theatre present ‘Bottom’s Dream’ by Alan Poole, which asks who really dreamt the Midsummer Night’s Dream – and what were the reactions of the mechanicals’ wives and mothers to their play-acting?

Other plays are being presented by Ad Hoc Theatre from Cwmbran and  Blackwood Little Theatre. All the plays will be adjudicated with the chance of going through to the Welsh finals in June. The Gwent Festival of One Act Plays is at Blackwood Little Theatre from 27^th – 28th^th April.  To book tickets – which are just £7 with a special buy one get one free offer - phone  07930 599317  or online at  http://www.blackwoodlt.org.uk/

No Holds Bard festival in the Argus

The South Wales Argus, sponsor of the No Holds Bard festival of new one act plays, featured the forthcoming event twice in today's edition - once on its diary page and again in its special supplement to mark the 10th anniversary of Newport achieving city status. They also ran a competition which gave 10 lucky readers a pair of tickets each to see No Holds Bard. Thanks to everyone at the Argus - and look forward to seeing you at the Dolman Theatre 15 - 17 March.

Aspiring Actors Can Audition for Newport Playgoers

Aspiring actors have the opportunity to audition for Newport Playgoers on Saturday 4^th February – and be cast in forthcoming productions such as ‘Dad’s Army’, ‘Calendar Girls’ and ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’.

Members of Newport Playgoers in 

their recent production of ‘Fawlty Towers’ 

(Photo: Phil Mansell)

Anyone aged 18 or over is welcome to come along to the friendly, informal open auditions which will be held at the Dolman Theatre between 10am and 1pm.  

Newport Playgoers, who own and run the city’s 400-seat Dolman Theatre, stage eight plays a year and recent successful productions include ‘Fawlty Towers’ and ‘Frost/Nixon’. 

The Society is involved in the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages project and will be presenting Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy ‘The Time of My Life’ from 7^th – 11^th February.

Anyone interested in becoming involved and attending the open auditions can find out full details by phoning 01633 263670 or visiting www.dolmantheatre.co.uk.

Newport Playgoers Select Bristol Writer's Play for RSC Open Stages

A play written by a Bristol man has won a competition to be staged by Newport Playgoers Society at the Dolman Theatre – with the possibility of going on to be performed at Stratford as part of the World Shakespeare Year celebrations.

Winning playwright Russell Walker

Russell Walker’s play ‘To Sleep Perchance to Die’ explores the actor’s eternal nightmare of being pushed on to a stage not knowing the play or the words. Complete with surreal staging and plenty of blood-filled death scenes, it promises to be an innovative and lively production.

‘To Sleep’ is one of four one act plays that won the competition organised by Newport Playgoers as their contribution to the nationwide Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages project which has over 260 amateur dramatic companies from all over the UK taking part.

“I was really pleased that my play was chosen for this prestigious event,” said 52-year-old Russell, a speech and language therapist who is originally from Kentucky, USA, but now lives in Clifton Wood. “The aim of the competition, which had entries from all over the world, was to give a modern take on Shakespeare and create something that today’s audiences will enjoy and find totally accessible. I hope that people will come along and enjoy an evening that promises to be full of fun and surprises.”

The ‘No Holds Bard’ festival of one act plays is at the Dolman Theatre in Newport from 15 – 17 March. Tickets can be booked by phoning the box office on 01633 263670 or visiting www.dolmantheatre.co.uk.

Actors wanted for RSC Open Stages!

CALLING all actors! Here’s your chance to be in one of the four plays selected for the No Holds Bard festival of one act plays, which is Newport Playgoers’ contribution to the UK-wide RSC Open Stages event.

The plays will be performed on 15 -17 March 2012on the main stage. Each play is about 20 to 30 minutes with no more than 6 cast members. Sets will be simple, with the build starting on 12 March.

This is your chance to be part of an exciting project co-ordinated by the world famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). Its aim is to embrace, develop and celebrate amateur theatre to re-forge the bond with the world of professional theatre. Newport Playgoers is proud to be part of this scheme which will culminate in a national showcase of amateur performances at the RSC’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, to coincide with the World Shakespeare Festival in 2012.

The Winning Plays and Playwrights

‘Only Words Remain’ by Kevin Myers
Staff at a nursing home are faced with a puzzle when an elderly man with no name is placed in their care. But who is the mysterious Mr Smith? A story about love, loss and the power and persistence of language.

Directed by: Rosemary Bissex.

‘Poor Yorick’ by Phil Mansell
Yorick the jester is not dead – he’s on the road dying a death as he pioneers stand-up comedy. Failing miserably, he is persuaded by his tavern wench girlfriend Bess to return to Elsinore and get his old job back – but once there he becomes embroiled in Hamlet’s plans for revenge.

Directed by: Caroline Drewett-Mansell.


‘To Dream Perchance to Die’ by Russell Walker
A wildy surreal play exploring the actor’s nightmare - as it happens over and over and over again.

Directed by: Jes Hynes.


‘Roman and Julia’ by Gary Dooley
The course of true love for an elderly couple in a nursing home runs far from smooth – until a friend lends a hand.

Directed by: Russell Walker.

Playgoers Applaud Rhian’s £13,000 Charity Trek up Kilamanjaro

A leading light with Newport Playgoers has raised £13,000 for Velindre Hospital – by swapping her greasepaint for walking boots and climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro.

Fund-raiser Rhian with members of the cast of ‘Humble Boy’. (PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL)

Rhian Mitchell raised the last £1,000 with a collection at Playgoers’ recent production of ‘Fawlty Towers’, and members of the cast of their latest production ‘Humble Boy’ took time out from rehearsals to congratulate her.

“So many people know someone - family friends or colleagues - who have been affected by cancer and have benefited from Velindre Hospital, so it seemed like a really good charity to support,” said Rhian, who lives in Usk. “I plan to do it again in a couple of years time, and raise even more money for this very worthy cause.”

Rhian Mitchell with fellow Playgoer Chris Powell in 'Humble Boy' (PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL)

The cast of ‘Humble Boy’, a modern take on ‘Hamlet’ set in a English country garden took a moment from rehearsals to congratulate Rhian on her achievement. Rhian can be seen playing the part of Rosie in the play at the Dolman Theatre from 11 – 15 October. Tickets can be booked by phoning the box office on 01633 263670 or visiting www.dolmantheatre.co.uk.

Two Hundred Turn Out to Witness Rough Justice in Victorian Trials

Two hundred people packed out Usk courtroom to see magistrates and solicitors from all over Gwent act out real-life Victorian trials – and witness justice 19th Century style.


Magistrates and members of Newport Playgoers Society

played people from both sides of the law in the

mock Victorian trials.
PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL

The onlookers cheered and jeered as harsh sentences - ranging from transportation to imprisonment with hard labour - were handed out in the historic courtroom. The trials, which were adapted from actual transcripts, included neighbourhood disputes, stabbings and passing counterfeit coins.

“The event was organised to celebrate 650 years of magistrates in the UK, and was an incredible success,” said Revis Williams, one of the magistrates who donned period costume to take part.

A dramatic moment during the trials when

a woman is accused of passing counterfeit coins
PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL

“Some people thought we were professional actors which was very flattering. Everyone involved had a marvellous time and some of my colleagues are saying we should do it again – maybe even put on a panto!” she added.

Newport Playgoers played a key role in the success of the mock trials by lending Victorian costumes from their extensive wardrobe at the Dolman Theatre.

“We were only too happy to help out,” said NPS spokesperson Phil Mansell. “Two of our members wrote the script and took part, playing people in the dock on the receiving end of some tough sentences. The magistrates were so grateful they have made a donation to Newport Playgoers' wardrobe department.”


The cast of magistrates and solicitors in costume
PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL