NEWSLETTER - SPRING-SUMMER 2024
If you haven't been able to tell it's summer due to the weather, you soon will, as our summer show is about to take to the road for 2024.
We're also delighted to have had another successful awards season with both The Father and Lilies on the Land being recognised.
Our next audio plays are now in production, and Fraser Haines is taking steps on a different stage this summer.
James and the Giant Peach
First of all to our summer show. Roald Dahl's classic story of James and the Giant Peach is performing at six venues throughout July 2024. This version of the story is by David Wood and promises to be a real treat for all the family.
Tickets are now on sale for the following performances.
Saturday July 6th Joy Mead Gardens, Farthingstone 6pm - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/oTWBPwauAqzN
Sunday July 14th Pitsford School 5pm - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/MvyIhNqizSnV
Saturday July 27th Kinver Edge Rock Houses 6pm - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/TmSqORFACauX
Sunday July 28th Benthall Hall - 6pm - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/kPnhbxYILatZ
There will also be two further private performances on Sunday July 7th in Moulton, and Saturday July 13th in East Hunsbury.
So, how do you tackle a play which contains a giant peach, five giant insects, a rhinoceros, over 500 seagulls, not to mention swarms of sharks, and a giant octopus! Easy! You ask one of Northampton's most experienced directors Weekes Baptiste!
'This is my third collaboration with White Cobra Theatre company, the last two being ‘Wind in the Willows’ and ‘Around the world in 80 days’.
When I was asked to direct this popular children’s classic, I duly accepted the task -however, as I wasn’t familiar with the text, it soon became apparent, that this was not going to be plain sailing, the manuscript included a rhinoceros, a shark an octopus and hundreds of seagulls!! For an outdoor production how on earth would this be achievable. The thing is, I’m more at home in a theatre environment where creating a style and seeing it evolve is a lot easier, all the tools are there, out in the elements, surrounded by open space and the unpredictable weather …. Not so much.
Once I finally got my head around the concept and created my own interpretation my anxiety began to calm – With a comprehensive set design in place and a gathering of local and semi-professional actors’ and artist, rehearsal for James and the Giant Peach began in May. Suffice to say, this hasn’t been without it’s challenges, productions like these usually are. I would very much like to thank the cast and crew for helping me build and construct this picturesque bridge.
So, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please sit back and enjoy our cinematic interpretation of David Wood's adaptation of Roald Dahl's very popular ’James and the Giant Peach’.
The Father & Lilies of the Land
Earlier this year we toured The Father, Christopher Hampton's translation of Florian Zeller's powerful and moving play which tells the story of Andre, an elderly man with dementia.
We were keen to try and fund raise for research into Alzheimer's and I'm delighted to say over the course of the run of the play we raised in the region of £1300 for Alzheimer's Research which continues to do remarkable work into ways of helping sufferers and their families.
We were also delighted that the play won the Isle of Man Easter Festival of Plays, with further awards for Martin Borley-Cox as best director, Ian Spiby as Best actor, with the production also taking Best Drama.
We also brought back Lilies of the Land which was originally performed late last year, and took that to the same festival where it finished as runner up to The Father, and won Best Comedy, Best Actress for Victoria Miles and Best costumes. Lilies also finished as runner-up at Hertford Theatre Week.
Upcoming Productions
Since the end of Covid, most of our attention has been getting our theatrical productions up and running, but the next audio productions are also being worked on. First out the blocks will be a second Sherlock Holmes tale - A Scandal in Bohemia. After that we'll be working with Nothing But Roaring Productions on another Jane Austen classic Sense & Sensibility. Our production of Pride & Prejudice continues to attract listeners, with just shy of one hundred thousand having listened on our YouTube channel, at the time of writing.
Fraser's Race for Life
Please join us in wishing Fraser Haines all the very best as he slips off stage and takes part in the 2024 Race for Life.
As Fraser explains, it's a fantastic cause, and he has a personal wish to be involved this year.
"In February this year I lost a dear friend of over 40 years to cancer. She'd bravely fought that unrelenting and unforgiving disease for 4 years, and it set me thinking about how I'd lost my dad, my aunt and my sister in law to "the Big C". I wanted to mark her passing with something positive, so on 14.7.2024 I will be running the Race for Life at Abington Park in aid of Cancer Research. I'll be running for all those who've lost their battle with cancer, and those like my brother-in-law who are survivors. The money raised will go towards research which we will, we hope, eradicate a disease which 1 in 2 of us will experience in our lifetime. I know times are tough right now, but if you could spare a couple of quid I'd really appreciate it. My JustGiving page is below, thank you everyone, Fraser."
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Future News
Finally just time to say we're planning our theatre schedule into 2025, and first up will be Our Man in Havana. This adaptation of the Graham Greene novel will be directed by Matt Fell, who just last year helmed It's a Wonderful Life for White Cobra, having previously directed the piece for Masque Theatre. I'm delighted to say Our Man in Havana will once again see White Cobra performing at Northampton's Royal Theatre over the weekend of January 16th/17th/18th 2025.
From everyone at White Cobra, have a great summer, and we hope to see you at James & the Giant Peach.