www.attic-

players.co.uk

The history of the Attic Players mirrors the history of the three villages of North Ayrshire. We've drawn on the memories of our members to produce this short illustrated history. 

Written by Dorothy Bailey

The 1990s continued with a comedy by Alan Aykbourn, ‘Confusions’, a series of four plays. This had a mixed reception, as it was not to everyone’s taste. It was followed by ‘Night Watch’, an American thriller by Lucille Fletcher, which was well attended. In this production we had a father and son acting together in the cast. A highly successful production was ‘No Time for Fig Leaves’ by Duncan Greenwood and Robert King. This was a story based on the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust where only two males survived to five women. One can visualise the antics in who was to win the men. This was well received by audiences; full houses every evening.   

Three one-act plays followed in the winter of 1994 with ‘Last Tango in Skelmorlie’, ‘Vacant Possession’ and ‘The Show Must Go On’. A number of young people joined us to put on these productions, which had three different directors, Bill Wright, Linda Beaton and May McFarlane. The audience found these three contrasting plays very entertaining. The newcomers rose to the occasion and gave excellent performances, augmenting the talents of the Attic Players. 

In 1995, several new people who had come to live in the area joined us. This enabled us to tackle more challenging scripts, the first of these being ‘Blithe Spirit’ in September, when it was deemed a huge success. This play required a high standard of technical effects to achieve the ghostly atmosphere and spooky happenings.   

In the spring, a coffee morning was held in Skelmorlie Community Centre - a special event for the Attic Players. This proved to be popular, especially with the locals. Quite a few must have recognised themselves in the display of old photographs, press cuttings and programmes from years gone by. 

In previous years we had often had one or two youngsters to take part in our productions. Then, with a little help from the Wemyss Bay Village News flyer, more children were recruited. In support of the Skelmorlie Gala Day a variety show called ‘From Shakespeare to Oasis’ was performed; it was directed by May McFarlane. Consequently in September 1995 the Junior Attic Players was formed and hey presto - pantomime! 

‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ was written by Jean Fleming and produced by May McFarlane in early December 1995. The cast was made up of local children and one adult who played the dame. This (our first attempt at such a large production) played to full houses over two nights and was appreciated by both cast and audience alike. 

In February 1996 we entered the SCADA Festival at Kilmarnock where we performed ‘The Last Munro’ by D Watson, and received a favourable adjudication. The spring production that year was three very different one acts: ‘The Proposal’ by Chekhov, ‘Five to Five-Thirty’ by P Johnson and ‘The Last Munro’. This was the first time we had attempted anything as classical as Chekhov, playing once again to full houses! ‘The Proposal' was also entered for the East Kilbride Festival.   

In the summer of 1996 some members of the Attic Players took part in the Skelmorlie Gala Concert, which widened our audience and stirred up more interest in the club. Pantomime number two was ‘Babes in the Wood’ by Tony Edwards.  By this time the local children had gained some experience in this field had become considerably more confident on the stage. We now required musical direction and choreography. We were fortunate to find these rare talents in the local community. According to the ‘crit’ in the Largs and Millport all three performances were sold out, and it was deemed to be “a sterling performance and a cracker of a pantomime”. Even the raffle lady received an honourable mention, combining to make the whole event an overwhelming success. 

The following spring we put on a play by Neil Simon, ‘Plaza Suite’. This was Lana Lord’s first production for Attic Players and it proved to be very successful. Neil Simon was a new kind of venture for the players and was well received. The report in the local paper described an hilarious, sparkling performance with promising new talent. 

‘Cinderella’, produced by Roger Hoggarth, was pantomime number three, written by our very own member, Richard Laing, which meant no royalties to pay – a major saving in the cost of a production. Youngsters were in abundance this year (our fame must have spread further afield!) and as a result, we had to double up on all the lead roles. In keeping up with current trends the horses pulling Cinderella’s coach was named after the chart-topping Spice Girls; Posh, Scary, Sporty and Baby. By this time, pyrotechnics were coming to the fore, as well as more sophisticated lighting and sound. This required a considerable amount of new talent and skill and we were fortunate to acquire new members with this expertise. In true pantomime spirit, some of the technical directions occasionally went awry! The write-up in the local paper was second to none. 

  The farce, ‘Big Bad Mouse’ by Falkland L. Cary and Philip King was presented in March 1998 and according to the Largs and Millport write up, was ‘a first rate and very slick performance.’ 

With Christmas 1998 came the production of ‘Puss in Boots’ by John Crocker. Once again, our regular ‘press critic’ Rev. Bill Armstrong wrote a highly complimentary report on the crew, both in front and behind the scenes. “Everyone went home wearing a smiling pantomime face. Oh, yes they did!” This was in spite of a nasty bug, which affected a number of the cast including a principal, whereupon Kirsty Doull bravely stepped in to save the day. What a heroine and an excellent performance to boot! 

As we were unable to cast all the increasing number of young players in the pantomime, it was agreed to put on ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (one act). This was performed by the juniors and directed by Dora Beeteson for the Meigle WRI for their Christmas meeting. A few members of the senior group also put on a number of sketches from ‘The Red Nose Day Comic Book.’ The WRI members enjoyed this and the cast joined with them afterwards for their Christmas buffet supper. This rounded off an extremely enjoyable evening. 

The spring production in 1999 was ‘Running Riot’, by Derek Benfield and was directed by Linda Beaton. Some of the takings from this performance were donated to Arthritis Care, which has a Holiday Centre situated in a hotel in Largs; this was in keeping with our tradition of supporting local causes. 

Skelmorlie Community Management Trust had a new PA system installed in the hall in early autumn – just in time to benefit us as a group and the forthcoming pantomime. Then in November, thanks to the untiring efforts of software gurus Roger Hoggarth and Richard Laing, the Attic Players moved forward into the 21^st Century with an Internet Web page, where it was possible to find out all the latest news and also book pantomime tickets. 

By December 1999 the youngsters were becoming more proficient with their acting skills in pantomime and we put on ‘Red Riding Hood’, written by John Beeteson of the Attic Players. The auditions for this show brought children from further afield and we also had a greater of number adult roles. We even had specially composed lyrics and music for many of the numbers, thanks to Siona Leitch and Jean McMahon. This added a new dimension to the production. By this time, the choreography had become much more demanding for the youngsters. This combination worked well, and due to our previous successes, we felt an extra performance was needed to meet the demand. 

Our next production,  in December 2000, was another locally written pantomime, ‘Snow White’. Our cast were very up-market with the “little people” being Dow Jones, Hang Seng, Dot Com..... just to name a few! The special effects this year really excelled and the back stage crew had to use every available skill to achieve such a polished, well-timed performance. As usual we played to packed houses. With so many children now being involved with the Players, it was necessary to involve parents for a number of reasons; supervision, help with costumes, make up, teas etc. Their support proved to be invaluable and was much appreciated by the club. This aspect meant that the whole atmosphere became very family-orientated. It led to the youngsters being involved in visits to a number of pantomimes in Glasgow, organised by a dedicated member and a number of parents. Not only was this a real treat, but also gave them an insight into what professional pantos could achieve!! The organisation necessary for these activities was a new venture for the club and created real team spirit. For the adults, parties were organised in the community centre for parents and everyone involved in the productions. A good time was had by all. 

In 1992 and 2001, successful cheese and wine evenings were held for members of the Community Centre Management Committee, former members of the club, and other users of the community centre who, on a number of occasions, kindly gave up their lets so that practices could take place in the hall. This gave us the opportunity to show our appreciation. 

It was decided in 2001 to approach Inverkip Community Council with a view to including Inverkip as part of the Attic Players. They were happy to do this and consequently the constitution was changed and the Attic Players full title became ‘Skelmorlie, Wemyss Bay and Inverkip Attic Players’. 

Also during this time, workshops took place for the junior section. The first one was carried out by the Scottish Youth Theatre over two days and was held in Balvonie. The experiences the children gained from this were invaluable. This was followed by further acting workshops, directed by Lana Lord, who because of her previous involvement, had already developed an excellent rapport with the youngsters. 

Workshops also took place for adults, the first of which was carried out by Roz Lane in Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Parish Church Hall and included skills in applying make-up and acting. This was very well attended by enthusiastic members of the Players and other interested locals.  We then took advantage of Lana’s professional experience by inviting her to carry out a number of acting and directing workshops for the adults, who benefited greatly from her experience and enthusiasm (and patience!). One workshop in late January 2002 was caught on camera by the local press. Lots of impromptu acting and directing took place, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day. 

Early in the year it was decided as a fund raising event to hold a Race Night. This was ably organised by a member, Pat Brennan, who worked extremely hard to make this a success. The starter was late in arriving with the equipment, but eventually they were off..... This was another first for the Players and very well supported. Everyone had an exciting evening willing their horses to be first past the post. Betting was fast and furious. The outcome of the evening resulted in much needed swelling of the club funds. 

‘Cemetery Club’ by Ivan Menchell was our Spring 2001 production. It is described as a witty and wise comedy with a ‘kick’, and is an example of what typifies this brand of humour. “No praise is high enough for this exceptionally fine production! From first to last, in the tense as in the wittiest moments, there was quality and ability in every performance – maintaining the New York accent was a feat in itself.” Judging by the applause and comments, the audience clearly appreciated all the effort, which had gone into this production. 

Aladdin was the sparkling pantomime for December 2001. This was a highly colourful performance enhanced by the skills of local choreographer Marianne Yeomans, who created some delightful and energetic routines for the company. Ann di Paola contributed enormously to this and a number of other pantomimes and plays by creating some wonderful and imaginative costumes. Her talents and those of her helpers have been truly appreciated over many years. The ‘Vizier’ was most convincingly portrayed by one of our new members from Bavaria. This was an excellent show and all the cast deserve a special mention. The expertise of the technical staff shone through in the set adding to a very happy and successful production. 

For many years Attic Players had been applying for a Lottery Grant but had not been successful. Finally, in May 2002, ‘Awards for All’ was brought to our notice and we received a grant in October for £4,610, which we used to purchase a mobile lighting system, enabling the players to take the theatre into the community. The grant also helped fund both the 70^th birthday celebrations of the Attic Players and a workshop for the junior members. 

We used the new lights to good effect in our production of ‘Gaslight’, a classic ‘theatre in the round’ production performed in October 2002 in the atmospheric surroundings of Balvonie lounge. The Victorian setting provided the perfect backdrop for Patrick Hamilton’s gripping thriller. ‘Gaslight’ was beautifully crafted, a tribute indeed to Lana Lord and the support of an extensive backstage crew. Quote from the local press: “This was a tough challenge by any standards but the end result was as memorable a production as any tackled throughout the long and distinguished history of the Attic Players”. 

The October performances of ‘Gaslight’ played to full houses and we even had waiting lists for shows. By public demand we gave a further four performances in January 2003, and once again they were received by rapturous audiences and full houses. In addition to the performance, an exhibition of previous productions from the 1930s onwards was set up in the chapel in the form of photographs, programmes, tickets, crits etc. We also had a ‘lucky dip’ bran tub and a local knowledge quiz which tested people’s skills during the interval. 

Over the past few years Balvonie Youth Centre has been the venue for rehearsals, for the pantomimes and other productions. This came about because letting fees for our usual venue increased substantially, which proved expensive for the many rehearsals of a small drama group. Thanks must go to The Salvation Army and the staff who have been most accommodating and helpful in the extreme. Without their help and support, things would have been much more difficult and we owe them a great debt of gratitude. 

‘Sinbad’ was the pantomime for November 2002. Numbers of children were down this year as we lost several older ones to university and further education and Largs Players had formed their own youth group. ‘Sinbad’ was another entertaining script. This year we were fortunate enough to engage the services of a young West End actor, Miles Guerrini, a name not easily forgotten. This was a pantomime in the round, requiring no scenery and only a few necessary props. The outcome of this was a Christmas show of considerable merit and great fun. To quote the press critic: “Miles, the director, did wonders for the confidence of the actors, who strolled through another delightful script with consummate ease. Everyone in the cast was a star”. The new mobile lighting enabled us to perform in St Patrick’s Church Hall, Wemyss Bay; Inverkip Community Centre; and two performances in Skelmorlie Community Centre. This was a challenge for cast and crew, having to adapt to a number of different venues. They rose to the occasion like troopers. This type of production was again a first for the Players, and a new experience for the audiences too. 

On March 21^st  2003 we celebrated our 70^th Anniversary with a dinner and entertainment at the Inverkip Marina Chartroom. Just over fifty members attended including some from the past. Laura Herbert, who has been a member since joining at the tender age of thirteen, who honoured us by cutting the anniversary cake.  The entertainment was provided by present members of Attic Players in the form of short sketches, enjoyed by all. The food and wine were excellent. Another Skelmorlie resident had decorated the cake. Photographs and memorabilia from the past were on display. Former members of the club who had not met for a number of years renewed old acquaintances. It was an evening of reminiscences with a relaxed and happy atmosphere. 

In May 2003, the spring production, which was performed in the Skelmorlie Community Centre, was ‘The Prisoner of Second Avenue’, written by Neil Simon and as usual, set in New York. This was the third Neil Simon play tackled by the club. We were able to include two experienced newcomers in the cast.  Quote: “It is a fast moving comedy full of twists and turns, dealing neither with prisons nor hostage taking – but with everyday 21^st Century occurrences like sudden unemployment. ‘Is that anything to laugh about?’ you may ask, but the role reversal that ensues lends a bright and comic side to a normally dark subject.” Simon describes the play as a funny drama. Yet again Lana produced this. All the players including the newcomers gave polished performances in keeping with the club’s reputation, and played to full houses on the three nights.  

It is impossible to mention all the people – members and non-members – who have given a great deal of time and effort to the Attic Players over the years, but I feel the following should be acknowledged: 

It seems that Jim Carnduff, our own David Bailey, has been taking photographs of rehearsals, productions and workshops for the Largs and Millport (wee paper) and the Greenock Telegraph, forever. His forbearing and patience have been greatly appreciated and we owe him a great debt of gratitude.

The Reverend William Armstrong of Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie Parish Church has been our regular ‘crit’ writer over the last decade. His imaginative ability in expressing the plot of the various shows and his descriptions of the casts’ interpretations of the characters they play, have highlighted the club’s ever-developing skills. 

Countless willing helpers have contributed backstage, including people not just behind the scenes, but also in the lighting and sound department. Front of stage has also had its fair number of helpers and thanks must go to Bill Duncan and John Houston, stewards of the Community Centre, for their helpfulness in setting up the centre for all performances. They have tirelessly supported Attic Players over many years and contributed to the smooth running of our productions. 

Over the past few years we have been very fortunate in acquiring local sponsors. Their financial contributions have supported our productions. A big ‘thank you’ must go to them all. On most occasions a profit has been made and we have been able to give contributions to many local charities. Apart from being able to inform local people of the activities of the Attic Players in the Skelmorlie Notes in the ‘wee paper’, we have been able to use the facilities of the Wemyss Bay Newsletter and the Inverkip Newsletter. This meant that we were able to reach out to the wider community. 

As I write, we are looking to future productions of two one act plays at the end of October 2003 – ‘The Proposal’ by Chekov and ‘One Season’s King’ by George McEwan Green. One performance is to be held in Wemyss Bay Community Centre and two in Skelmorlie Community Centre. These performances will include a complimentary glass of wine in the ticket price. Another first for Attic Players will be a week long run of “‘Allo, ‘Allo” in March 2004 in the Seaview Cafe in Wemyss Bay. This includes a supper and the audience will be seated around tables as if part of the clientele. 

In an attempt to increase the social side of Attic Players, the committee recently proposed to arrange theatre outings for members. A few people attended an outdoor production at Culzean Castle in July and eighteen members will be attending a production of ‘Private Lives’ by Noel Coward at the Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow in November. Since January 2003 we have been holding monthly social evenings on a Tuesday in Skelmorlie Community Centre to which a general invitation is extended. Here you are able to enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles and also take part in play reading. Everyone present is encouraged to contribute their ideas for future activities. So far this has been enjoyed by all who have attended. 

As mentioned previously there have been so many people involved in Attic Players over the years. They are too numerous to mention but without their help and support, the Players would not have reached their 70^th birthday. Over the last decade, there have been great changes for the club. Information technology and high tech equipment have helped to improve and enhance productions of all kinds. Numbers have fluctuated over the years, yet we still manage to develop and keep up to date with creative new ideas and forward thinking. Attic Players has brought a unique group of people together resulting in many continuing, valuable friendships. The Attic Players has now become a ‘local institution’. 

We have now really entered the 21^st Century; long may it continue!