Mystery Play update

A previous play

At today’s rehearsal we didn’t go to the end of the play because we ran out of time. We were blocking scenes to get some idea of how to stage it. We think it will take about an hour of running time. We need to agree about staging it and what props and scenery we need. The makers who help design the sets looked at how to create the tree costumes, sorting out a wig for the witch, and have got a broom and papier mache stars, we need a cave with a canvas flap to show a boulder being rolled in front of it. Also whether people will come on and off the stage area or more sensibly to share half of the acting area as the witches cottage and the other half as the wood and cave. We definitely need people. One of the people was good as the witch and another did a good Greta (the witches assistant, I’m  not sure if those people will be final characters we still need to look at who is available and happy to do it. I helped by playing a woodsman that was turned into a tree  because of trespassing in the witches wood and also a girl who is helping to look for names of the six towns of Stoke-on-Trent. I’ve got my fingers crossed that we can literally get our act together!

Too busy to blog!

What a day! I went up to the Harpers Titchy Theatre event today. We held a small theatre in the round, with short two page scripts. Funny and poignant, thought provoking and hopefully memorable.

In addition a local author had a stall selling her books, we had various stalls selling knitware, tee shirts, some glassware, turned wood pieces, penkhull mystery plays memorabilia. Plus the obligatory raffle and tombola. I am currently drinking the raffle prize I won.

We were not only entertained by the actors, but also Ukelele players and Clay Chorus choir.

There were lovely cakes, scones, sandwiches and ice creams for sale. Plus tea, coffee and juice.

All in all it went really well. Hopefully enough funds were raised towards staging a full Mystery play event in Penkhull next year, which would be the twentieth anniversary of the community event.

Penkhull Mystery Plays

Ten years ago, three horseheads of the apocalypse!

Up until Covid we were merrily holding Mystery Plays almost every July. We had a fallow year where we did other things, but the central play was missing. But now a group of residents are working towards a 20th anniversary performance in 2025.

So on Saturday 6th July 2024 we are holding a Titchy Theatre fundraising event to try and enthuse people to get involved for next year. The event will be in Penkhull Village Hall from 12.30 to 2.30pm.

We had fun creating props from willow withies and paper and glue. The horses were based on Picasso style ideas.

Flaming torches

When I dropped my hubby off at Penkhull it was amazing to see three or four hundred people crowded on either side of the road getting ready to set off on the Wassail. There were people carrying lit flaming torches which Sent sparks up into the windy air. I let hubby out of the car next to the Domesday Morris dancers, they were dressed in their costumes with fairy lights wrapped around their hats. The sun was about to set and I wished I was going with them down the hill to the ancient apple tree to beat its boughs so that it will be fruitful in autumn. They would be walking around some of the boundaries of the village and stopping off to dance on the church green then calling in at the local pubs and the choir I am with would be singing Wassail songs outside them. Unfortunately I missed all of that. But I went home and had a rest instead.

Virtual panto link!

IT IS FINALLY HERE THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! OUR VIRTUAL PANTO EXTRAVAGANZA.
We hope you enjoy the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utoP21vuFro
We are proud to be supporting YoungMinds. We are asking, if you are able, for donations of this performance to support their mission. Follow the link below: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/penkhullplayers
PLEASE SHARE A SMILE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Every year since 2009 our little village of Penkhull in the City of Stoke-on-Trent has held a pantomime in the village hall. This year we couldn’t do it, but we’ve tried to keep the fun going by taking part in an online version….. See what you think!

Morning View

Reasonably early in the morning, for once a bit of blue sky peeping through. Giving me the feeling that the sky has been washed clean. My windows need cleaning so they are covered in specks of dust and dirt. I’m sure a bird has flown into it a while ago, there is a dusty mark… At the village hall I once saw the outline of a pigeon that had hit a window. Birds have a sort of dust on them that helps protect their feathers. That’s what leaves a mark….

Believe it or not… Bat

This tiny bat was flitting around the back of the village hall last night. I know they are fuzzy photos but all I can say is we watched it for about ten minutes. I think it was a pipistrelle bat. It was hard to get a clear shot because it was moving so fast.

There were a few moths about and I think it was trying to catch them. I wish I had a bat detector. It transforms the high pitched call of a bat into a clicking sound you can hear.

Anyway that’s what happened last night. No vampires were harmed taking these photos. X