October 2020

​We know that many of you enjoyed our online performance. It was lovely to be flexing our performing muscles again, so much so that we've decided we can't live online anymore. Although the future remains uncertain, we have decided it's time to get the show back on the road, and have booked our next performance dates, for March 2021.
We'll be working hard with the Pump House to keep our members and audience safe, and will observe local and national guidelines throughout.

We appreciate it's a way to go, and things could change further by the time we get to that stage [pun intended], however we hope you'll once more join us a night of great entertainment.

10 - 13 March 2021
We are currently auditioning our members to perform 'Just the Ticket', a 90 minute comedy, by Peter Quilter, who wrote The Actress which our group performed a couple of years ago.

The show allows the audience to accompany Susan on her solo, nostalgic journey from the airport to Australia as she retraces steps she took with her girlfriends when she was 20. Along the way she reflects on life, love, loneliness, friendship and trials of growing older.

We obviously have some way to go in terms of organising our cast, rehearsing and preparing for the performances but we will continue to keep you updated through this newsletter and social media. We will especially let you know when the box office open and you can book tickets.

Please watch this space and we hope to welcome you back to the Pump House when we can.

September 2020

Belmont continues to review the national and local guidelines for performances and while we do not have a show in hand at the moment, we hope we can restart some level of play reading or performance activity in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we are delighted to share another online performance with you - the sequel to The Lion and Albert.

Albert returns
Following the positive feedback to our first online performance, our members have collaborated virtually to pull together another film. It's bigger, with props and more people than before! 

We hope you once more enjoy it as much as we did putting it together.

You can find the film on our YouTube channel, or by clicking here.

The first version is also still available. 
​

August 2020
​
Performance update
During recent months we have continued to review national and local guidance, and based on the current situation have made the difficult decision to cancel our slot at the Pump House in October. Our committee agreed that we did not want to put the health of our members and audience at any risk and as such will now look towards our next live performance happening in 2021.
We know that this may disappoint many of you (as it has our members), however we feel this is the safest option at this time. We have been in touch with those who had tickets moved over from our previous planned performance dates in May and will continue to monitor the rules relating to live performances.

We are however considering options for smaller performances, that may work better in the future, as well as working on the sequel to the Lion and Albert (first performance still available on our YouTube page) and hope to share this with you all later this month.
Group update
Within Belmont we continue to do what we can to support our members at this time. This has included sending newsletters with updates on what people have been up to as lockdown eases and some of our group are exploring the options for socially distanced get togethers.
Based on member feedback we recently held our first virtual AGM, giving our members the chance to share their views and have their questions answered.
This also included re-electing our committee, with the exception of our long-serving Treasurer, Malcolm. Many of you will be familiar with Malcolm from his stints on the box office over the years. While he will remain a member, he has decided to pass on the baton and we would like to take this opportunity to share our thanks to Malcolm for all his efforts on behalf of us, and our audience, over the last two decades. Belmont is better for his involvement and we appreciate the handover he is now giving to his replacement.

May 2020

​Like some of you, we are missing the theatre, and have suffered some sad losses in recent weeks. Despite these challenging times, we have been doing what we can to support our group. This has included providing all of our members and patrons with additional time on their annual membership, for no extra charge. Our Treasurer also offered extra support to anyone who wished to continue their membership but was struggling due to financial hardship. We have also had online get togethers, shared lockdown hints and tips, and will very soon have our first online members quiz night.

Alongside the above, a lot of effort went into rearranging our performance of We Happy Few for October. The decision for whether this goes ahead or not is out of our hands at the moment but we’ll continue to monitor the situation, following national and local guidance.
We have also made a contribution to the Pump House theatre itself - letting it keep our May deposit of £373, as a small gesture of support during this time.

And we haven’t forgotten our audience either. As we type this update, members of our group are working on an online monologue which we hope to share with you in the future. It’s just a little something for us to perform, and you to enjoy. Keep an eye out for the next update - or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram too.

We Happy Few, May Shows Postponed
In line with Government advice, Belmont took the decision to postpone performances of We Happy Few (originally scheduled for May) until October.

At Belmont we take the safety of our audience, and our volunteers, seriously, and whilst we would have loved to have continued to prepare for a May show, we knew we must take this decision.

Our aim is to perform We Happy Few, a tribute to the 75th anniversary of VE Day, on 21 - 24 October.
We will therefore look to perform Pygmalion (which was planned as our October show) in 2021, subject to the availability of our director.

We have updated our booking page to reflect the change to We Happy Few, and either processed refunds (for TicketSource bookers) or contacted individuals to discuss refunds/transfer of seats (non-TicketSource bookers).

We will, of course, continue to review this situation, and update our members and mailing list if anything should change further.

We wish all of our audience well - stay safe and sanitised.

A Wonderful 2019
Across fifteen performances in 2019, our committed team performed the touching 'Bothered and Bewildered', humorous 'Be My Baby' and rounded off with the thought-provoking 'Love In Idleness'.
Each show was well-attended, with great feedback from audiences and critics alike.
Belmont Theatre received recognition with a bumper set of awards and shortlistings at two prestigious ceremonies. Many congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

At the Barnet Festival, 'Bothered and Bewildered' was our nomination, and we were recognised as follows:


CategoryActor/RoleResult

The Adjudicator's Award                      Bothered and Bewildered                             Win
Best Actor in a Supporting Role           Charlie Seddon, as Jim/James                    Win
Best Actress in a Leading Role            Carole Baynes, as Irene                               Shortlisted
Best Actress in a Supporting Role        Louisa Swiergon, as Young Irene/Shelley    Shortlisted


At the annual National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) Awards, we scooped awards for our 2018 performance of 'Journey’s End', as well as 'Bothered and Bewildered':

CategoryActor/RoleResult

Best Male                  Elliott Campion, as Captain Stanhope in Journey’s End           Win
Best Female              Carole Baynes, as Irene in Bothered and Bewildered              Win
Scenic Award            Journey’s End                                                                           Shortlisted
Poster Design           Journey’s End                                                                           Winners of
                                                                                                                                    National Competition
In addition to the above, with the donations of our audience, including involvement in our show raffles throughout the year, we raised over £750 for Watford's Peace Hospice Care, supporting their excellent work. 
Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Belmont Theatre Audience Newsletter

FOR A FULL VERSION OF THE NEWSLETTER PLEASE SEE BELOW:
Thank you to Eddie Stephens for putting together.

http://mailchi.mp/5ca8701e23f8/brighten-your-february-with-some-sparkling-comedy-at-the-pump-house

Dear Friend

Belmont Theatre would like to wish all of our friends, patrons and audience members a healthy, happy and prosperous 2018.

With all the festivities behind us, what better way to stave off those post-festive doldrums than looking forward to a night of top-quality theatrical entertainment at The Pump House.

NEXT MONTH, we will be presenting Peter Quilter's cracking comedy, The Actress. Some performances are already well over half full so please book soon to be sure of your favourite seats.

A poignant comedy, dramatizing the events backstage as Lydia, a 
colourful, complicated actress makes her farewell performance, 
while dealing with a string of unexpected visitors..

Drama and comedy collide as people say their goodbyes, declare their love, roar with laughter, spit insults, grab a final embrace, and renew old battles.

Some wonderfully comic dialogue to have you chuckling until the final curtain.

Written in 2014 and premiered in the US the same year, The Actress has since had productions in Germany, Brazil, Russia and the UK.

Reviews..."The audience was thrilled and greatly moved by the show" - Dez Minutos de Arte 

"A huge success...  The applause just didn't want to end...The play is full of witty dialogue that is also philosophically profound...A smart, intelligent and very amusing play." - The Mercury
"This play is so rich...Quilter's characters ring true" - Woodinville Weekly

Your cast....
 
some favourite Belmont names, plus, we're delighted and excited to welcome two new faces to the Belmont family and the Pump House stage...can you tell who they are?
 
Lydia: Judi Campion
Paul: Mark Dosher
Nicole: Tash Welch
Katherine (Lydia’s dresser): Carole Baynes
Margaret (Company Manager): Kim Wedler
Charles (Lydia’s lover): Michael Collins
Harriett (Lydia’s agent): Paula Welham
Gaev (Cherry Orchard): Steven Mercer
Lopakhin (Cherry Orchard): Mark Dosher

Thank you for your continued support of live theatre in Watford. We hope very much to see you at the Pump House in February.


P.S. We are always looking for new members to join in the fun. Please do contact us (or speak to anyone of us if you're coming to a show) if you or someone you know wishes to find out about getting involved either onstage, behind the scenes, stewarding or to volunteer specialist skills to help run this friendly group and create the magic of live theatre. There really is nothing like it
 

A big thank you to Mary for hosting our Christmas get-together last Sunday 10th December , a few sturdy people made it through snow bound South Oxhey - a lovely buffet and The Belmont Christmas tree looked stunning :- 

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM US ALL AT BELMONT THEATRE - look forward to seeing you at our next production in FEBRUARY 2018 - 'The Actress'

We are pleased and excited to announce the cast for our up-coming play 'THE ACTRESS',

The cast is as follows:

Lydia: Judi Campion...
Paul: Mark Dosher
Nicole: Tash Welch
Katherine (Lydia’s dresser): Carole Baynes
Margaret (Company Manager): Kim Wedler
Charles (Lydia’s lover): Michael Collins
Harriett (Lydia’s Agent): Paula Welham
Lopakhin or Gaev (Cherry Orchard): Steven Mercer

The Production team are as follows:
Director: Daniele Robson
Producer: Lorna Alder (assisted by Michael Collins)
Stage Manager: Mark Dreelan
Prompt: Dawn Harvey
Set Design: Bill Rebello
Lighting design & sound: Eddie Stephens & Helene Smith
Costumes: Judi Campion and Anne Wick
Props: Helen Sherwood and Mary Woolf
Well done to ALL the auditionees, it was wonderful to see you.
Get in early and book your ticket:-
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/belmont-theatre-company
OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE ON: 07917 324179

Making theatre isn’t easy, but the Samuel French Theatremakers Workshop aims to make it that little bit easier.

Join us at the Actor’s Centre in London for a day-long event devoted to the art and craft (and the graft) of amateur theatremaking. You'll have the chance to take part in two acting workshops on a choice of 4 topics, led by top professional tutors. There'll also be advice and inspiration on everything from finding the best shows to making the most of your marketing, and opportunities to meet Samuel French staff and other theatremakers. With all this and tickets at just £15 if you book this week, it’s sure to be an inspiring and enjoyable day.
 Everyone will have the opportunity to take part in two of the following workshops...
Movement for Actors led by Sarah Perry
Tools for Learning an Accent led by Elspeth Morrison
Comedy Technique led by David Boxer
Portraying Injury and Death in Performance led by Lyndall Grant
 
The event takes place on Sunday 5th November, starting at 10.30am and finishes at 5pm, when you’re invited to join us for a glass of wine. It will be held at The Actor's Centre in London.
 
Tea and coffee, lunch and a glass of wine are included in the ticket price.
 
BOOK EARLY AND SAVE
Earlybird tickets are just £15 (regular price £20) if you book by Wednesday 11th October

Belmont Theatre Committee is pleased to announce the cast for Separate Tables -

Show Dates; 25th to 28th October 2017Directed by Carole Baynes
CAST in no particular order:

• Miss Cooper - Judi Campion
• John Malcolm - Mike Bland
• Anne Shankland - Mary-Anne Anaradoh
• Major Pollock - Mark Waghorn
  
• Sybil Railton-Bell - Kim Wedler
• Mrs Railton-Bell - Daniele Robson
• Lady Matheson - Estelle Dell
• Miss Meacham - Lorna Alder
• Mr Fowler - Bernie Vick
• Doreen - Dawn Harvey
• Mabel - Helen Sherwood

Production Appointments:

• Producer Mary Woolf
• Stage Manager - Graham Broderick
• Costumes - Anne Sutherland
• Set Design - Bill Rebello

​

BOX OFFICE: Judi Campion & Mark Dreelan -
Now open for bookings.

National Operatic & Dramatic Association                               London Region
 
Society                 : Belmont Theatre
Production         : Suddenly At Home
Date                      : 24th May 2017

Be inspired by amateur theatre

 Venue                  : Pump House Theatre
Report by            : Gillianne Morris-Monk
 
                                                                                                                                

Show Report
 
Thank you for inviting me to review your production and for the kind welcome and hospitality from FRANKIE HOGAN and the front of house team, which was co-ordinated by ESTELLE DELL.
 
‘Suddenly At Home’ is a murder mystery with a difference. Early on we see the murder taking place before our very eyes and therefore know ‘who dunnit’.  The mystery is whether or not the murderer will get away with it. We are used to plays of a high standard from Belmont and this production, set in the 1970’s, did not disappoint. The curtains opened to yet another beautifully presented set.  Well done to set designers PAUL BOTLEY and BILL REBELLO with construction by MARK DREELAN and members of the company.
 
Directors GRAHAM BRODERICK and PAUL BOTLEY had put together a well flowing piece of gripping storytelling, with each character playing their part to keep us in suspense. The action moved along at a good pace to maintain the interest of the audience throughout.  The actual ‘murder’ was extremely well directed with lots of complicated business especially with the handling of the ‘body’. For a first attempts at directing, Graham, you did very well and I hope you enjoyed the process as much as the audience enjoyed your production.
 
Properties and furniture were well sourced by HELEN SHERWOOD and ELLEN MOYES with special props by LES SUTHERLAND. All were in keeping with the period and for a number of us in the audience there were some nostalgic moments as we recognised items from our youth in the 1970’s.
All changes were carried out smoothly and efficiently by the team, stage managed by LORNA ALDER.
 
Lighting and sound by EDDIE STEPHENS, KIM RODGER and HELENE SMITH really enhanced the production.  The mysterious, eerie music at the beginning and during the changes set the scene, getting the audience in the mood for what was to come.  However, there was a moment in Act 2 when music over dialogue was a little too loud so that we struggled to hear what the actors were saying.  Also, the doorbell and slamming of the front door offstage were rather too loud to be natural.  A small point but something that can be easily remedied. Because of the layout of the Pump House stage and auditorium, this is always a problem for all the companies that perform here so it is worth spending a little extra time sound checking at get-in.  Lighting filled the stage with no shadowed corners enabling us to see the actors at all times, even during moments of low ‘mood’ lighting. I am always pleased to leave a performance without remembering too much about the lighting as this means it has been natural and well executed, enhancing the actors’ performances, not drawing attention from them.
 
Wardrobe by ANNE SUTHERLAND was exactly right for the 1970’s and for each character. For those of us who remember this decade well, it was a trip down memory lane.
 
The programme was well laid out and informative.  The posters were eye-catching and in keeping with the subject matter. Both were well designed by MIKE and MAGGIE MORROW with photography by ALICE BREZINSKA.
 
Glenn Howard – MICHAEL COLLINS
What a fun role to play, so competently performed by this seasoned and experienced actor.  The intricacies of the dialogue flowed with ease and all the business when alone on the stage was slick and kept the audience enthralled.  The plotting and then the carrying out of the actual murder, then dealing with the body, was handled so efficiently and naturally, to be totally believable. I was particularly impressed with the contrast between the confidence before the murder and the unease as things begin to unravel after the murder. I certainly forgave the moment when Michael called Helen Sheila and then muddled everyone’s names on opening night, as I am sure the character would have done the same at that point under such pressure!
 
Helen Tenby – NATASHA WELCH
This was a good, confident performance and no-one in the audience would be able to tell that this was Natasha’s first performance as an adult if they had not read the programme. Dialogue was delivered in a natural manner, although, to begin with it was a little rushed and I did miss some of what was being said.  However, that is understandably due to opening night nerves and Natasha did settle into a more measured delivery as the action progressed.
 
Maggie Howard – DAWN HARVEY
What a peach of a role, flamboyant and, as Dawn herself said, larger than life.  Dawn threw herself with gusto into her performance. Projection and diction were good with nice facial expressions. As the murder victim Dawn is to be commended on her handling of the actual murder scene and the subsequent length of time being left on stage as the body, remaining completely still, even when being man-handled by the murderer, until she could finally leave the stage.
 
Sheila Wallis – TARA PATHIRANA
This is quite a tricky role as Sheila is in on the plot and has a part to play providing an alibi, but she is uncomfortable with the situation and worried that something will go wrong.  Tara successfully gave us a ‘nervy’ performance leaving us in no doubt as to Sheila’s unease, especially when things don’t go to plan. Tara articulated clearly and moved well around the stage, interacting well with the other characters.
 
Sam Blaine – LAURENCE CONWAY
An effortless performance from this experienced performer. Good delivery of dialogue throughout. There was a convincing change of character from the happy-go-lucky author of saucy books to the fearful murder suspect, who realised he is being set up and likely to be accused of committing the crime. Nice interaction with the other characters.
 
 
Ruth Belcher – DURBA ROY KINI
Although a small role, Durba did well in her debut performance for Belmont.  Be careful Durba, not to rush your dialogue when you are nervous – the opening dialogue was a little difficult to understand on opening night but once you had steadied your nerves every word could be understood.  Good facial expression and natural movement around the stage.
 
Detective Inspector Appleton – STEVE MERCER and Remick – MIKE BLAND
Although small roles that do not appear until much later in the play, both are extremely important to the plot and the final ending. Steve and Mike played their parts well with solid characterisation and well-handled interaction with the other characters.
 
I do love a murder mystery and really enjoyed this production.
 
Thank you once again for your very kind welcome and hospitality.
 
Best wishes
 
Gilli Morris-Monk
Regional Representative
NODA London District 10
 
 

Congratulations to Judi Campion  for winning the Harvey Kesselman Comedy Award at the NODA London Awards 2017! - for STEPPING OUT. - All at Belmont Theatre are very proud of her.

I am quite sure that Belmont Theatre Company’s next production – Separate Tables – will be familiar to most of the members.  We are performing it from October 25th – 28th. You will recall that it is actually two one act plays both taking place in Beauregard Private Hotel in Bournemouth.
I am intending to amalgamate the two plays so that the two featured storylines occur concurrently – which is how it was presented on film and television.
One storyline concerns a down-at –heel journalist confronted by his ex-wife, a former model.  They had a volatile marriage, which ended when he was imprisoned for physical violence towards her. This ruins his budding political career. After many years and another failed marriage she tracks him down – realizing that she is still in love with him.
The second storyline concerns a “self made” army major whose loneliness and insecurities lead him into reckless behaviour and criminal charges are brought. He receives comfort from an unlikely source – a timid spinster overshadowed by her domineering mother.
Another essential character in the problem solving for both storylines is the capable and self- sacrificing hotel manager Miss Cooper.  There are other interesting guests staying at the hotel each with their own interesting background story.
CHARACTERS:-

• Miss Cooper : Hotel Manager  - Middle aged  Capable,  efficient and in love with the journalist.
• John Malcolm:  Troubled journalist – 40s-50s – drinks too much, violent temper, embittered by his self destruction.
• Anne Shankland: Glamorous model – 40s-50s – Spoilt, self-obsessed but lonely, worried about getting older.
• Major Pollock:  Military man – 50s-60s – who, for all his bravado is shy and insecure.
• Sybil Railton-Bell :  Very timid, spinster – 30-40 ish. Totally dominated by her mother.
• Mrs Railton-Bell:  Strong, bigoted woman – 60s-70s. Presumed widow likes to have her own way.
• Lady Matheson:  Meek, former nobility – 60s-70s.  Widowhood has left her impecunious. Frightened by Mrs Railton-Bell.
• Miss Meacham : A bit of an eccentric – 70+ Not intimidated by anyone. Likes to study the horse-racing form.
• Mr Fowler – Retired public school housemaster – 60-70. Pedantic, always reflecting on past and old school boys.
• Waitresses – 1 or 2 depending on availability.
• Some of the action takes place in the dining room when food is being served – so we will be needing a couple of chef’s s well! These do not appear on stage.

I believe this play will suit our company and audiences alike and I look forward to seeing plenty of members at the read through and auditions. (Well I can dream can’t I)
Carole Baynes (Director)

Belmont will have a publicity stall set up promoting the group and also we will be providing the entertainment. We took part in this event last year. It was great fun and a worthwhile way of connecting with the local community.

The stall will be set up by Mary Woolf, thanks Mary for this, and our entertainment will be organised by Estelle. Thanks to you both for volunteering to help.
 
It opens at 11.00 am and the entertainment will happen about 12.30 pm.
Entertainment Lined up so far - Dawn Harvey (Belly Dance) Natasha Welch (Fusion Dance)
Graham Broderick (Singing)

Please come along and support the group. It’ll be fun and a bit of a social event for the group. They made us so welcome last year.