Rehearsals took place in what was then the Chapel of Ease, and after taking the children home the cast were able to invade the Butcher
& Beast to discuss what went wrong. During that year our producer, Tom, was sometimes ill and so I took over much of the
production.
The Community Centre is not ideal for stage productions, having no backstage or wings. I designed the original auditorium lighting
so it could be dimmed with a portable lighting console. Unfortunately when it was rewired, fluorescent lighting was installed ( difficult if
not impossible to dim). The stage lighting in the Village Hall, Heighington was at that time a single 100 watt lamp on a cord! Commercial
lighting was hired: — 2 x 4 spotlights on tripods. There were some amusing episodes: “ full up bright” -a lighting cue put the whole
building in darkness! We learnt that you could not have the tea urn connected while the show was running.
We gave up the touring aspect of our company as we had to cut the height of scenery to fit the Heighington venue.
The cumbersome ‘Washingborough & Heighington Community Players’ became ‘Penfold Players,’ a name coined by our talented
and inventive founder member, Maggie Ashley. The first pantomime was a resounding success. Nothing succeeds like success, and on
we went with more ideas.
How different and sophisticated are the recent productions —tiered seating, professional sound, a superb stage extension apron,
colourful costumes and scenery, complemented by a brilliant and dedicated team of actors, back stage crew, musicians, make up artists
, Young Penfold Players , front of house staff and a whole army of supporters.
Long may it continue.
Ray Pulman
Hon. President
& Beast to discuss what went wrong. During that year our producer, Tom, was sometimes ill and so I took over much of the
production.
The Community Centre is not ideal for stage productions, having no backstage or wings. I designed the original auditorium lighting
so it could be dimmed with a portable lighting console. Unfortunately when it was rewired, fluorescent lighting was installed ( difficult if
not impossible to dim). The stage lighting in the Village Hall, Heighington was at that time a single 100 watt lamp on a cord! Commercial
lighting was hired: — 2 x 4 spotlights on tripods. There were some amusing episodes: “ full up bright” -a lighting cue put the whole
building in darkness! We learnt that you could not have the tea urn connected while the show was running.
We gave up the touring aspect of our company as we had to cut the height of scenery to fit the Heighington venue.
The cumbersome ‘Washingborough & Heighington Community Players’ became ‘Penfold Players,’ a name coined by our talented
and inventive founder member, Maggie Ashley. The first pantomime was a resounding success. Nothing succeeds like success, and on
we went with more ideas.
How different and sophisticated are the recent productions —tiered seating, professional sound, a superb stage extension apron,
colourful costumes and scenery, complemented by a brilliant and dedicated team of actors, back stage crew, musicians, make up artists
, Young Penfold Players , front of house staff and a whole army of supporters.
Long may it continue.
Ray Pulman
Hon. President
| ‘Washingborough & Heighington Community Players’ now known as The Penfold Players |
"Never work with children and animals" the showbiz experts proclaim.
You could add ‘or amateur thespians’
But we did and we do! If you have looked at the Penfold website you will know some of the history of
the society, and if not, here is what really happened! Pan back to the 1980s when furious fund raising went
on in the village in order to add to the money needed to build a replacement for the village hall, now too
small to serve the ever-growing population.
You could add ‘or amateur thespians’
But we did and we do! If you have looked at the Penfold website you will know some of the history of
the society, and if not, here is what really happened! Pan back to the 1980s when furious fund raising went
on in the village in order to add to the money needed to build a replacement for the village hall, now too
small to serve the ever-growing population.
With the aid of Manpower Services, a building called the Community Centre arrived.
Mainly let out and used for weddings, jumble sales, and dances, its community involvement was minimal.
So Tom Cole was approached to do something about it. I volunteered to be musical director, and we were off on the production of the
first pantomime. Tom was an experienced producer, having run the Little Theatre in Lincoln for many years. He and I put in £50 each to
get the show on the road! We were a touring company then: three shows in Washingborough and two in Heighington.
Mainly let out and used for weddings, jumble sales, and dances, its community involvement was minimal.
So Tom Cole was approached to do something about it. I volunteered to be musical director, and we were off on the production of the
first pantomime. Tom was an experienced producer, having run the Little Theatre in Lincoln for many years. He and I put in £50 each to
get the show on the road! We were a touring company then: three shows in Washingborough and two in Heighington.