Tight Fit Theatre Tight Fit Theatre

Squeeze
An occasional newsletter published by Tight Fit Theatre,
and distributed by snail-mail to those on the mailing list.
(The web version is uploaded later.)

If you would like to apply to receive the paper version,
and do not mind your details
being held on a computer only for this purpose,
please call +44(0)8707 450977. Or email
Tim Hill.
Alternatively, you can go to the
response page and send a message.

Summer 2000

Summer School 2000
It‘s back for the fourth year running.

The course is from 24th July to 28th July 2000 at The Beacon Centre for 9 - 16 year-olds. Classes run from 10am - 4pm culminating in a public performance at 7pm on Friday 28th. The cost is £95 for the week, which includes all tuition fees, a Tight Fit Theatre T-shirt, The TFT Guide to Theatre and free entry to the performance for family and friends.

Classes will include:- voice, improvisation, movement, dance, mask making, set design, set painting, an introduction to lighting and sound, an introduction to stage make-up and stagecraft. All classes are taken by professional, experienced practitioners.

To reserve your place visit our website where you will find a booking form. Places are limited and demand will be great so you are advised to do this now to avoid disappointment.


Celebration 2000
Tight Fit Theatre in the Community are to participate in Celebration 2000, a charity production mounted by The Young Theatre (at Beaconsfield), Beaconsfield Theatre Group, and the Chiltern Shakespeare Company at The Beacon Theatre on 20th - 22nd July 2000 at 7.30 pm.

This is the first time that all the local groups in the area have staged such a show and is likely to be a terrific evening. TFTitC are performing Lady of Letters from Talking Heads by Alan Bennett with Jenny Quille.

Tickets are available from the Beacon Theatre (01494 677764). All profits to Rushymead Hospice.


Wycombe Swan Residency
We are pleased to announce that Tight Fit Theatre are soon to become the resident company at The Wycombe Swan.

September will see a launch of this residency to coincide with the beginning of our 2000/2001 season which opens with Macbeth.


OTHER NEWS:
Mark Oldknow is directing The Tempest for the Pendley Shakespeare Festival; August 8th - 12th 2000.


Macbeth 4 - 7 October 2000
” . . . a spellbinding piece of theatre . . . •
Tight Fit Theatre present a revival of their much praised 1998 production of Macbeth.

Played on a circle of forest bark, the three witches take centre stage transforming into the people who conspired to drive Macbeth to his violent and bloody end. The production opens as the weird sisters discover his corpse and bring it back to life. Their incantation also resurrects the figure of Banquo - and so the tale begins.

Innovatively staged and imaginatively played, the cast with director (Mark Oldknow) have found a depth and texture to the story, which makes the production almost unique in concept. The text is delivered clearly and dynamically, making it accessible to a younger audience whilst losing none of the power.

This is Tight Fit Theatre‘s latest touring production - for October and November - and it will deliver an evening of theatre that will captivate. With the emphasis, as always, on visual richness and theatrical flair there can be little doubt that Macbeth will encourage and entertain new and old audiences alike.

Macbeth is on a number of syllabi for both GCSE and A-level, as well as being taught in some primary schools as part of the national curriculum.

The production, modern in style, should appeal to all age groups. Matinee performances for schools are available by arrangement.

continued in next column ->->->

Three Witches
Carla Quelch, Joanna O'Connor and Jenny Quille in the 1998 version of Macbeth

Tight Fit Theatre is keen to assist in the development of the relationship between school audiences and the theatre. We will provide, where appropriate, one free workshop to any educational establishment as part of the performance package. (Certain criteria apply).

Our workshops can be either specific to the play‘s text or specific to theatrical practice and are tailored to meet the needs of the participants. Further information is available from the company by email or by filling in a Response Form.


Oh, yes, you will!!

Our fourth Beaconsfield Pantomime, now for the millennium year, is booked at the Beacon Theatre.

This year will see another brand new show - Flash Gordon The Panto.

Evil villain, Ming the Merciless, Dame Zharkov, principal boy Flash and principal girl Dale Arden will do battle to save the Earth.

Dates and times are December 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th, 30th at 2pm and 6pm. No evening performances on 14th, 15th, 21st and 28th. Tickets are available on 01494 677764 at £6.00 and £4.00 (concessions) or book on-line here.

10% Discount for parties of 20 or more.

Flash Gordon The Panto

A Midsummer Night‘s Dream

The first production of the 1999/2000 season and the first small scale tour by Tight Fit Theatre started life at The Wycombe Swan.

Tight Fit regulars, Carla Quelch and Michael Chadwick, were joined by newcomers Victoria Cox and Tracey Wood (graduates of The Guildford School of Acting), David Keeling and Dov Citron. The show played to good houses and was well received by audiences, especially a special matinee to 90 children from the Sands Middle School. Michael and David were unable to complete the tour and so the cast was joined by Dave Capstick and Jim Lawless. Performances were held in Great Missenden, Fulmer, Granborough and Chalfont St Peter as part of Buckinghamshire‘s Theatre in the Villages scheme.

Michael Chadwick as Puck
The production was played on a large bed and opened with six teenagers watching the television (sounds familiar). They go to sleep and as they reach the land of nod a figure enters through the window. Puck. The dreammaster. He then transforms the children into the characters in the play.

The concept demanded a great deal of versatility from the cast, a challenge which they rose to. Lighting was essential and Tim Hill, once again, delivered both with the rig at the Swan and on tour (two stands and nine lamps - we were impressed).

Highlights were the fairies turned into hand puppets and a strange monkey!? Ho hum.


The Phoenician Women

Masks
Mark Oldknow‘s new adaptation of the Euripides classic went into The Swan in March.

The reworking of the Oedipus legend played to good houses and drew praise from audience and critics alike. It is probably our most successful production in this regard. Carla Quelch was joined by five TFT virgins in the shapes of Michelle Frost, Gillian Forshaw, Laura McFall, Nicola Hinton and Sally Bristow. All turned in beautiful performances. The set, a chessboard floor

continued in next column ->->->

with a single chair and nine costume stands sat comfortably in the new Town Hall studio space.
Swan technicians, Osman Dervish and Kieran Patrick were given free rein with the lighting, working off Tim Hill‘s brief, and an what an outstanding job it was. As has become expected with Mark‘s productions, the soundtrack drew great interest. For those who want to know it was taken from The End of Days and The Devil‘s Advocate film soundtracks.
Pw

The Mysteries:
The Passion


Tmtp
Revived for a small tour as part of Beaconsfield‘s Faith in the Future, The Mysteries: The Passion also went to Ealing, Gainsborough and Tunbridge Wells.
Jenny Quille recreated her performance as the Devil and Caiaphas (amongst others) and was joined by Gillian, Michelle and Sally, hotfoot from their success in The Phoenician Women.
This powerful piece of theatre, once more, proved it‘s worth, especially in the churches.
URC and St Michaels
Interest has already been expressed for 2001 by a number of venues, so watch this space.

Cinderella

Tight Fit Theatre in the Community continued its run of traditional family pantomimes with Cinderella by Carla Quelch and Tim Hill at the Beacon Theatre.
The production played to a record audience which proves that you don‘t need a star name to attract people into the theatre. Nearly every matinee was sold out a month before the production and the evenings were catching up.
In the Community regulars Paul Bacon, Dave Capstick, Manda Capstick, Chris Hoult, Chris Quelch and Tony Sendall were joined by newcomers Erica Buist, Lauren Prager, Sarah Davies and Rob Bowen. The chorus saw summer school participants and other local young people via Chiltern Shakespeare, Misfits and our mailing list, joining in the fun.
A great script and talented cast were ably supported by a cracking set (from Tim Hill), props (boy were there lots) and stage management by Ally Hill, sound by Steve Curtis, lighting by Daniel Hopkins, and costumes (will we ever forget the Ugly Sisters ball dresses?) by Jenny Quille, assisted by Gladys Gwilliam. A special mention must go to John Quelch for the magnificent coach.
Panto 2000 is already booked.

PYGMALION

Pygmalion is one of Bernard Shaw‘s most popular plays. The story of Professor Higgins‘ conversion of the flower girl into the duchess remains a firm favourite with audiences around the world. This was evident in the tremendous sales for Tight Fit Theatre‘s June production at the Swan.
The Bucks Free Press and The Buckinghamshire Advertiser provided reviews that rate amongst the best the company has received during its four year existence. Frances Chidell particularly liked the casting of Eliza and Doolittle from ethnic black roots feeling ”it was an interesting idea and it worked•.
Allister as Doolittle
Mark Oldknow brought new faces into the company for this show, Roli Okorodudu and Allister Bain as Miss and Mr Doolittle and Richard Toynton as Pickering. Joining these new faces was the ubiquitous Jenny Quille doubling Mrs Pearce and Higgins.
At home with Mrs Higgins
Tight Fit Theatre in the Community also played a part in the proceedings with Helen Sharman, Samantha Whittaker, Ben Sansum, Rob Bowen (also one of the hard working SM team) and Chris Quelch (also responsible for the wonderful costumes) taking on the smaller cameo roles.
Our thanks to Carlos Quieroz and Jason Walsh from the Wycombe Swan technical department for their contribution - much needed and praised.
The Wycombe Swan was not the only venue lucky enough to see this production. Thursday 29th June saw the cast and crew in Portsmouth at the New Theatre Royal. Ally Hill (SM) and her team faced with a venue with no wings rose to the challenge and Tim Hill (LX) and Carla Quelch (DSM) were likewise faced with more than one or two problems (sorry, opportunities) which were admirably dealt with. After a little re-blocking the show played to an appreciative audience and a weary, but happy team, returned to Beaconsfield in the early hours of Friday morning.
Shaw Corner

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