Newsletter February 2026

Dear All,

Here’s hoping that this Newsletter finds you warm, dry and well given the weather we are currently experiencing. The Committee met this week and below are just a couple of items for you.

The Curtain Closed…

…on Dick Whittington, this year’s Pantomime. It really was a fantastic show, and we more or less sold out for 3 out of the 5 shows that we put on this year with several people coming back to see it twice!!!

The feedback from audience members was wonderful and people left having joined in lustily with smiles on their faces. As one member of the audience said to me (when I bumped into them a few days later) "This is just what everyone needs on a grey January day – laughter, sparkles and fun. Thank you".

So, the Committee would like to thank the cast for their hard work, enthusiasm and joie de vivre when performing, everyone backstage for all their support both before and during the shows and members who came along with their families and friends to support us all.

What a great show and what fun to be all together doing something we enjoy – that’s what this group is all about 😊.

MEMBERS’ MOVIE NIGHT

Members are invited to a Members’ Movie Night starring none other than ourselves 😊.

The Committee will be screening Dick Whittington at the Memorial Hall on:

Thursday 5th March starting at 7.30 pm

Drinks and nibbles will be provided and it would be wonderful if as many of us who were involved both on stage and backstage could be there to really enjoy watching (what we know was a hugely successful show) all together.

SPRING/SUMMER SHOW 2026

The Committee met to discuss our next show and Louise suggested a comedy play, ‘Ladies’ Day’. Hannah has kindly agreed to direct the show with Chrissy as her Assistant Director which is wonderful. We would all like to thank them both very much for taking this on and look forward to rehearsals starting (more about that further down).

Below is a brief synopsis:

‘Set in Hull, four women from a fish factory - Pearl, Jan, Shelley, and Linda - swap their hairnets for hats when Royal Ascot comes to York. What begins as a fun day at the races turns into something far more revealing, as champagne, betting slips, and secrets mix with laughter and heart. It is a warm, funny, and uplifting story of friendship, love, and the courage to dream. Think 'Calendar Girls' with high heels and Prosecco!’

The cast is 4 women of various ages and at least 1 male (more could be included) and the play is two acts, roughly 90-100 minutes total. There are about 10 short scenes and most take place in just two settings: the fish factory and the racecourse.

There will be an Intro Night on Monday, March 2nd and the dates of the show would be June 25th, 26th and 27th. Before going ahead, we are looking to see who would be keen to be a part in this to make certain that it is viable so please can you respond to the poll on LWDG Banter when it is put on there. If there are not enough people then obviously the show will not be able to go ahead.

SUMMER SINGALONG

Having performed for the Gardening Club’s Christmas Meal we are hoping to put on a ‘one night only’ Summer Singalong on June 13th which is on the Saturday of the Open Gardens Weekend in Little Waltham. The Open Gardens proceeds all go to Farleigh’s Hospice and we will donate all ticket sales to them too. It would also be a great way to promote our Summer Show.

Vicky (soon to be Sneller 😊) has very kindly agreed to take this on so, again, we are looking to see who would be keen to be a part in this to make sure is it is viable before she starts planning it all. So, once again, please can you respond to the poll on LWDG Banter when it is put on there. It will be great fun to sing together again, and it really is such a worthy cause too.

AND FINALLY…If you have anything that you wish to be included in our next Newsletter then do let me know at lallie.godfrey@outlook.com