On a warm sunny Saturday afternoon on 22 June, we welcomed Club members and friends to the Shenfield Parish Hall for our annual afternoon tea. With delicious sandwiches, scones, jam and cream provided by Sue Grandison and light and fluffy cakes made by Brenda Le-Surf, we gathered and drank lots of tea and coffee whilst enjoying good company. In fact we had over 20 people attend - more than had booked - and it was lovely to meet people new to the Club.
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This year's tea was also a chance to launch the new Janet Cass Memorial Cup. Janet was a longstanding member of the Club who passed away recently and to honour her memory, the committee decided to create a cup in her name to be awarded to any member of the Club who has provided outstanding service to the Marlborough during the preceding year. We were lucky to have one of Janet's sons, Philip Cass, join us at the tea to officially hand over the Cup to the first recipient.Travelling all the way from Bristol for the day, Philip was delighted to be able to present the silver cup to the first winner, stating how much the MDC had meant to his Mum over the years and the good friends she had made through the Club. Chairman Bill Wells announced the winner after the meal, stating that this first year, the recipient was voted for by members of the committee, but that in subsequent years all members will have the opportunity to vote for the winner. He continued that this year's winner was a talented actress as well as doing a lot of work towards the running of the Club, taking minutes, and writing the newsletters and confirmed that Juliette Bird would win the Cup in 2024. |
Philip handed over the Cup to a very pleased Juliette. She mentioned that if it wasn't for Janet, she wouldn't have known about the MDC. Juliette met Jan and her husband Bill at the Ingatestone Hall Tudor re-enactment for school children and it was then that Janet invited her to a Marlborough production before Juliette joined the club in 2013. Juliette said she was very glad Janet had taken her under her wing and to have become a member as she has made some super friends. She thanked the Club for the honour.
Shortly after 5pm we began tidying up the tea, washing up the plates and putting away the tables and chairs and left to enjoy the rest of the sunny evening. We made £83 which we will put towards the costs of running our Autumn production - Ten Times Table. Thank you to everyone for making a very enjoyable event!
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The Club committee is pleased to confirm that the Autumn 2024 production will be Alan Ayckbourn's 'Ten Times Table' directed by Graham Poulteney.
This comedy follows the increasingly rancorous attempts of a committee to organise a pageant celebrating the 'Pendon Twelve' rebellion, culminating in a re-enactment that mirrors the original event all too closely.
The majority of the cast who auditioned originally a couple of years ago are still able to fill their parts and will be taking to the Memorial Hall stage back at Brentwood School 24-26 October 2024. (Thursday and Friday 7:30pm, Saturday matinee 2:30pm)
Our cast includes:
Ray - Colin Richardson
Donald - Roy Hobson
Helen - Juliette Bird
Sophie - Louise Richardson
Eric - Andrew Chesney
Audrey - June Fitzgerald
Lawrence - Alan Thorley
Tim - Patrick Stevens
Philippa - Josie Poulteney
Max - Graham Poulteney
Please check back to this website over the next few months for more news on the production and, nearer the time, information on how to book.
Now that the Marlborough's Spring 2024 production of 'Visiting Hour' by Richard Harris is over - here is a look at how it all came together: NEW! Click here to see a selection of the official production photos Click here to find out who the backstage / front of house crew were that were helping behind the scenes Click here to see a few images of the cast backstage, and during rehearsals Click here for the official NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) review Click here to see a PDF of the programme Click here for the article with all the booking information |
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