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Stockton Foresters receive the Barrass bounce of approval for murder mystery at Stockton on the Forest Village Hall

York pantomime comic stooge Martin Barrass, back row, second from right, meets the Stockton Foresters cast for Being Of Sound Mind at Stockton on the Forest Village Hall

STOCKTON Foresters Drama Group will perform Andrew Hull’s little-known gem, Being Of Sound Mind, from November 30 to December 2, much to the approval of York pantomime legend Martin Barrass.

Dame Berwick Kaler’s stalwart sidekick visited last week’s rehearsal of Hull’s murder mystery with all the twists of a corkscrew.

“The Foresters provide the highest standard of any amateur drama society I’ve ever known,” enthused Martin, ahead of the run at Stockton on the Forest Village Hall, near York. “Forget the telly. This is real live entertainment that will have you captivated from start to finish!”

Foresters’ chair Karen Ilsley responded: “Martin has been so supportive of our thriving company, encouraging our talented actors and crew, and letting us in on a few trade secrets! We are honoured to welcome him into our fold and look forward to a long and fruitful association.”

Jasmine Lingard, left, Stuart Leeming and Lynne Edwards in rehearsal for Stockton Foresters’ Being Of Sound Mind

Foresters’ newcomer Jasmine Lingard will play Penelope Asquith, who is eager to discover the truth as to why her late aunt haunts the Goodchild residence. Will the household survive the night to inherit Edward Goodchild’s fortune? Or are the inhabitants destined to succumb to supernatural forces?

Jasmine will have a further role as Eleanor, joined in director Louisa Littler’s cast by Stuart Leeming as Martin Bodmin; Martin Thorpe, as Marshall; Pete Keen, Stephen Asquith; Lynne Edwards, Rebecca Lockhart; Nicky Wild, Jane Brunt, and Russell Dowson, Shaun.

“I have hugely enjoyed working with the Foresters on this production,” said Louisa. “The cast are really responding to the challenge of creating a suspense-filled piece that will have our audience intrigued to the end.”

Stockton Foresters present Being Sound Of Mind from November 30 to December 2 at 7.30pm nightly. Doors open at 6.30pm. Stockton on the Forest Village Hall is on the Coastliner bus route and there will be plenty of accessible parking and a bar. Tickets are on sale at thelittleboxoffice.com/stocktonforesters or Stockton on the Forest Village Shop.

Did you know?

STOCKTON Foresters are teaming up with The Fox Inn for this production. £9 tickets include a voucher for ten per cent off a meal at the village pub in January and February 2024. Vouchers will be available at the village hall.

What will panto favourite Martin Barrass and co be doing this winter at the Grand Opera House?

Martin Barrass, centre with fellow Grand Opera House pantomime stars David Leonard, left, AJ Powell, Suzy Cooper and Dame Berwick Kaler

MARTIN Barrass will star alongside Dame Berwick Kaler, David Leonard, Suzy Cooper and A J Powell in the swashbuckling pantomime adventure Robinson Crusoe & The Pirates Of The River Ouse at the Grand Opera House, York, from December 9 to January 6 2024.

Today, by the way, is Berwick Kaler’s 77th birthday. This winter, Britain’s longest-serving dame will be starring in his 43rd pantomime and second for producers UK Productions.

Meanwhile, the dowager dame’s costume and boots are on display at the V&A Museum, Cromwell Road, London, taking pride of place in the Theatre and Performance galleries until at least February 2024.

Writer-director Dame Berwick will lead his groundbreaking take on Daniel Defoe’s 1719 story of the sailor from York who finds himself marooned on a desert island, but on this occasion, Crusoe will not be sailing solo. Expect the unexpected as the familiar gang assembles again from December 9. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Berwick Kaler’s costume, rudimentary wig, trademark yellow and red socks and boots on show at the V&A Museum, London
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The Stockton Foresters seek out A Sting In The Tale for comical thrills in December run

Russell Dowson, left, as Max Goodman, Pete Keen, as Nigel Forbes, and Stuart Leeming, as Detective Inspector Berry, in rehearsal for the Stockton Foresters’ December production of A Sting In The Tale  

THE Stockton Foresters will stage their innovative adaptation of A Sting In The Tale from December 1 to 3 at Stockton on the Forest Village Hall, near York.

In the wake of their post-lock down production of A Bunch Of Amateurs, these thespian villagers will be out to prove once more that they are not amateurs at all, but a bunch of talented community players.

The Foresters will be presenting their account of a 1986 comical thriller by playwrights and television screen writers Brian Clemens and Dennis Spooner, whose credits include The Avengers, The Professionals and Coronation Street.

Nicky Wild’s Jill Prentice

Director Louisa Littler says: “A Sting In The Tale opens with two once-successful crime writers trying to write a play to pay off their mounting debts, then develops as they realise who better to accomplish the perfect murder than themselves. 

“With so many twists and turns, you will remain intrigued – or as happily confused as the bumbling Detective Inspector Berry – until the end.”  

Louisa’s cast will include Russell Dowson as Max Goodman, Peter Keen as Nigel Forbes, Stuart Leeming as Detective Inspector Berry, Nicky Wild as Jill Prentice and Holly Smith as Ann Forbes.

Gun shot: Peter Keen, left, and Russell Dowson rehearsing a scene for A Sting In The Tale

The Stockton Foresters have been staging shows since 1946, “entertaining families across York, always trying to bring a fresh twist to old favourites”, as chairperson and cast member Nicky Wild illuminates.

“Amateur drama was actively promoted to create, repair, sustain and develop community spirit during and in the post-war years,” she says.  

“Even our dearly departed Queen, Elizabeth II, trod the boards. Sadly, she never blessed those of Stockton on the Forest, but we continue to keep our standards high in the hope that King Charles III may pop in to visit!”

Nicky continues: “The Covid years have been hard for everyone with no live events, but our theatre group has stayed strong, remaining a fantastic outlet for audiences and actors alike.

On the case: Stuart Leeming’s Detective Inspector Berry

“It’s a place where people can escape their woes; and most importantly laugh together. So, like many before, we soldier on to entertain our troops. Community theatre will remain the backbone of village life in turbulent times.”

Tickets for the 7.30pm performances are on sale at £8 at https://thelittleboxoffice.com/stocktonforesters or £10 on the door. The Stockton Foresters will be offering a paid bar and raffle to raise funds for the village community.  

The village hall is fully accessible, situated on the main Coastliner X843 bus route and has plenty of free parking on site.  

Looking ahead, Nicola says: “If you love the show and are interested in joining, the group always welcomes new members to their theatrical family to continue the story.”  She can be contacted at nix_charlie@hotmail.co.uk  

Sofa scene: Stuart Leeming’s Detective Inspector Berry and Holly Smith’s Ann Forbes
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Who better to stage am-dram comedy A Bunch Of Amateurs than the Stockton Foresters’ very own bunch of amateurs!

Karen Ilsley, as Dorothy Nettle, and Stuart Leeming, as Jefferson Steel, in rehearsal for the Stockton Foresters’ May production of A Bunch Of Amateurs

THE Stockton Foresters’ first full-scale production post-lockdown will be Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s A Bunch Of Amateurs.

This two-act comedy will be staged at Stockton on the Forest Village Hall, near York, from May 12 to 14 at 7.30pm.

The Stockton Foresters trod the boards carefully with a reduced-capacity audience when presenting three one-act plays last November, but now they are back in force.

The group played regularly to full houses before the pandemic struck and hopes A Bunch Of Amateurs will do likewise with its storyline of an amateur dramatic group’s determination to overcome all odds to stave off closure.

Holly Smith, left, Stuart Leeming and Karen Ilsley look askance in the Stockton Foresters’ rehearsal room

Written by two of the original Spitting Image writers, this fast-paced, sharp-edged comedy is performed frequently on the amateur circuit, while the film version starred Imelda Staunton, Sir Derek Jacobi, Samantha Bond and Burt Reynolds.

Louisa Littler’s cast comprises Stuart Leeming as Jefferson Steel; Karen Ilsley as Dorothy Nettle; Holly Smith as Jessica Steel; Russell Dowson as Nigel Dewbury; Jane Palmer as Mary Plunkett; Peter Keen as Denis Dobbins and Lynne Edwards as Lauren Bell.

The play’s theme resonates with director Louisa Littler, who says: “It has not been without its own real-life dramas that the Stockton Foresters have brought together their first full-length play since lockdown: a comedy about a local theatre and its struggle for survival that will have audiences hugely entertained.  

“Our group has a reputation for putting on amateur productions of the highest standard and this show certainly won’t disappoint. As the lead character declares, ‘Let’s show ‘em what a bunch of amateurs can do’!” 

If the crown/veil/hat fits: Stuart Leeming, (left), Holly Smith, Peter Keen, Jane Palmer and Karen Ilsley rehearsing a scene from A Bunch Of Amateurs

The Stockton Foresters are “really proud to have kept going throughout the past couple of very difficult years”. Weekly Zoom meetings and quizzes with banter and fun aplenty have ensured the group has survived and thrived.

“We’ve even managed to recruit several new members, which is testament to our reputation and determination to continue,” says Louisa.

Tickets must be pre-booked, available at £8.50 from Stockton on the Forest Village Shop, on 01904 400583 or by emailing dramastockton@gmail.com. “We’ll be offering a wine/juice/beer bar and our ever-popular raffle,” says Louisa. “There’s plenty of free parking at the venue, just behind the village hall.”

Please note, A Bunch Of Amateurs contains strong language.