Celebrations are the order of the day at recent rehearsals from the Too Friendly Theatre Company. The cast have just been informed that they have received multiple nominations in this years National Operatic and Dramatic Association annual awards. The awards celebrate the best of the North West’s theatre and they have been nominated for their play ‘It’s Now Or Never’, performed in the Little Theatre in Southport last Summer. They have been nominated as ‘Best Supporting Actor for Mark Haygarth, ‘Best Actor’ for Cliff Gillies, ‘Best Director’ for Cliff Gillies, ‘Best Staging Of A Play’ and for the ‘Best Play’. Cliff has also been nominated for ‘Best Mortal In A Pantomime’ for his role of the Dame in All Soul’s production of Peter Pan!
This amazing news comes as the company puts the final touches to another show at the same venue. ‘Time Of My Life’ opens at the the Little Theatre on May 27th and tickets have just gone on sale. The play, written by Alan Acykbourn is considered one of his greatest plays and should prove a real treat for local drama fans. The story follows Laura Stratton’s fifty-fourth birthday. She is out for the evening to celebrate at her favourite local restaurant. The other guests include her businessman husband, Gerry, her two sons Glyn and Adam, Glyn’s wife Stephanie and Adam’s new girlfriend, Maureen. Three couples celebrating a happy family outing. Yet is it all as harmonious as it appears? What secrets lie buried in the past? What hidden tensions lurk beneath the present surface? What awaits them all in the future? What do the waiters make of it all?
Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy explores the family’s lives, past, present and future in a three way journey through time. It has been described as ‘completely timeless, a masterpiece of theatre’ and ‘dark, funny, a soul searching
The production opens on May 27th and runs till the 29th at the Little Theatre in Southport.
You can get information on the theatre’s website www.toofriendlytheatre.com. Tickets are priced at £7.50.
BOOK TICKETS NOW! YOU NEVER KNOW YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR’S ‘BEST PLAY’!
To book tickets in advance call 01704 541306
in a three way journey through time. It has been described as ‘completely timeless, a masterpiece of theatre’ and ‘dark, funny, a soul searching
The production opens on May 27th and runs till the 29th at the Little Theatre in Southport.
You can get information on the theatre’s website www.toofriendlytheatre.com. Tickets are priced at £7.50.
BOOK TICKETS NOW! YOU NEVER KNOW YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR’S ‘BEST PLAY’!
To book tickets in advance call 01704 541306
Tag Archives: Too Friendly
New play… and more award nominations.
‘First Sight’ Review
We performed my play ‘First Sight’ recently at the Matchbox short play festival and at the risk of looking like I’m blowing my own trumpet I wanted to show you the review that appeared in the recent NODA magazine.
“First Sight written and produced by Cliff Gillies and performed by Too Friendly Theatre Company was the first play. Cliff took the part of Matthew, the main character, who delivered the dialogue mainly as a monologue. He tells the story through a number of love letters he has exchanged over many years with Emily, his love at first sight. His delivery was an emotional roller coaster which could not be faulted. The parts of Dave, played by Mark Haygarth and Emily plated by Helen Rawcliffe are important to the story…
…However the writing was excellent with an unexpected twist in the denouement. This was a good short play well presented.”
Edited from the full NODA review.
Another Review Of ‘It’s Now Or Never’
Well it’s a bit late getting it up here but here is another review of our performance of ‘It’s Now Or Never” from the NODA magazine.
“This comedy which borders on farce was a brave choice for the group and it came off… The set was very good indeed and the pace was fine. The cast worked hard and came across well with good characterizations. But what can I say about Rocco, played by Mark Haygarth, who doubled as Elvis. The poor man was pushed from pillar to post throughout the play… and handled the role extremely well. Rob Darby gave us a believable police inspector with a good accent. Sue Thomas played Daphne for all it was worth and added to the fun. There were good performances, which I have come to expect, from Cliff Gillies and Helen Haygarth. Lydia, played by Dot Scott and Keith, played by John Windsor, who along with Cliff led the team in what was a very enjoyable evening.”
Edited from the full NODA review.
Final Night Of ‘Murdered To Death’
The scenery has been flattened, the costumes put away and the audience has left the building. The curtain has come down on Too Friendly’s latest production, that of Peter Gordon’s Murdered To Death. For me the final performance was fabulous, really great, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Once again I delighted in being on stage and once again I corpsed in the final scene of Act One.. However it was the audience that started me off this time!
Overall I would have to say that this one of the Too Friendly’s best productions for sometime. Quite how I define ‘best’ I’m not sure… individually we have acted better before, we have had better costumes, I’ve directed better, we’ve had better scripts, better scenery… but something came together on this one which was intangible. I think the audience helped – especially on the Friday and Saturday – as they made an incredible atmosphere. But this production really did feel special to be part of.
Peter Gordon’s script is excellent, very funny, and if you are a theatre company looking for a crowd pleasing, side splitting play, then you could do no harm in checking it out.
Thanks once again to everyone who came to see the show, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Photos
In response to one comment that the website was missing some photos I have decided to add some for you… here are the first… the cast of a multiple award nominated ‘Les Miserables’
Too Friendly Website (again)
The Too Friendly Theatre Company website is back up again. It’s only a temporary version for the moment but it has some new photos and all the information on the new production. Check it out.
Also, why not join the mailing list? We have two tickets to give away for the next production and to enter the draw for them just join the mailing list and you will be automatically entered.
And The Nomination Goes To…
I got a phone call this week from Helen, her having just taken delivery of a letter from the National Operatic Drama Association. It seems we have been nominated in this years NODA awards. The nominations are for our production of Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’ and we are up for the following:
- Best Supporting Actress (drama) for Andrea Culkin.
- Best Actress (drama) for Helen Haygarth.
- Best Actor (drama) for Cliff Gillies.
- Best Staging.
- Best Play.
- Best Actress (pantomime) For Sue Thomas.
It goes without saying that I am really, really pleased. You know, dear reader, that I had some difficulty getting this show on; particularly in terms of the staging so to be nominated in that category was most pleasing of the lot!
Added to this I have been nominated for ‘Best Mortal in A Pantomime’ for my role of ‘Buttons’ in last years All Souls production of Cinderella.
The awards evening is in the middle of August and I of course will let you know after the event whether we were lucky enough to win any of the categories. In the meantime I am to get prepared for two events..
Coming up quickly (too quickly) is our next production, Peter Gordon’s “Murdered To Death” in opening in June. I want to take a moment to let you know how funny this script really is… If you are a theatre company looking for a script then check this out (Peter’s Website). Whilst the play is really funny it’s taking a while to get together and we seem to be running out of time…. but don’t I always say this sort of thing every show??
The other event is at the end of April and is yet another awards evening. I will be heading to Blackpool along with many of the cast of Cinderella; for it too has received a nomination in the regional NODA awards for Best Pantomime.
It seems I will have to be ‘suited and booted’ a few times in the coming months!
Too Friendly Website
In case your looking for the Too Friendly Theatre website here’s an update… It’s down at the moment as we are having a redesign / rejig. I will keep you posted on any news here for the moment until its up again… and of course tell you when it’s back up.
