A Christmas Carol - Review Diary

20/12:
         The audience was all fully booked at every seat was filled to the prim.  Scrooge had forgotten to place his nightgown and dressing gown by his bed on a six-foot raised platform before the show's first act began, we found them in the gents' changing room so we gave them to Scrooge and he put it for the second act.  There was a moment when Mrs Cratchit forgot her lines and, after some promoting from nearly everyone possible, she managed to say her lines, and got a applaud from the audience.  During the show, we sang the first verse of carol songs.  However, we sang Angels from the Realms of Glory instead of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, so we sang the Angels twice.  We, the cast, were happy that we survived the first night.
         Two more nights.

21/12:
         We came close to cancelling the show - Young Scrooge was ill in hospital! Thankfully, John or director altered the Young Scrooge scenes so that Scrooge "relives" his past is a dream like manner, and had been working on the scenes all afternoon.  And I must say, he and the cast did a good job.  We got the carols correct, and Mrs Cratchit did her lines no problem.
         One more night.

22/12:
         It's all over - and it was fantastic! I agree with the phrase that last nights are the best nights.  We thanked John for directing us and we enjoyed the audience applauding us at the end.

I hope that you will come to Eden Court to see and enjoy its many shows that are coming in 2017 (I wonder what we're doing next December).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

A Christmas Carol - Dickens's Christmas Story

From the drama group who brought Fawlty Towers, Maria Marten, Sweeney Todd, and, last year, The Golden Nugget of Bad Crow, comes a performance of Charles Dickens's 1843 A Christmas Carol.

Perhaps Dickens's most famous story beside Oliver Twist, the story follows the infamous character of Ebenezer Scrooge.  It's Christmas Eve, and Scrooge is a greedy man who refuses to celebrate Christmas and is visited by the ghost of his long dead partner, Jacob Marley, who drags heavy chains for not helping people, the poor ones most of all.  Marley tells Scrooge that he's about to suffer the same fate, but with more chains, unless he learns the meaning of life from three spirits who will visit him in the night.

The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, shows Scrooge his childhood and how he become he greedy man is he and what it has done to the people around him.  The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, shows Scrooge how Christmas is celebrated around the world, first by the poor Cratchit family, where Scrooge notices Bob Cratchit's ill child, Tiny Tim, who says the famous line "God bless us, everyone."  The final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Future, shows Scrooge a terrifying future for Scrooge, scaring him out of his wits, causing Scrooge to beg for a second chance and promises to change his ways.

Scrooge wakes up on Christmas Morning a changed man, surprising everyone he meets, and helps Tiny Tim get better.

A Christmas Carol is a wonderful story that touches everyone's hearts who have read, heard or seen the story.  I hope that still will touch everyone's hearts.

As mentioned in a previous post, Dramalab is using a traverse stage, a stage with the audience on two sides of the stage.

A link to the Eden Court website for more information and tickets.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy this timeless Christmas story that has never gone out of print.

A Merry Christmas!

Inverness Music Festival 2017

Inverness and Eden Court is going to be full of music between the 25th of February and the 8th of March for the Inverness Music Festival is coming, run by the Inverness Festival Association.

Here's a link for tickets.

Here's a link to the Inverness Music Festival website.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy a range of music.

Royal Ballet:Jewels

I must admit, I have never heard of Jewels before, and I don't know the story at all, so I can't say that much of what the story is about.  Only that sounds like it will dazzle you, and if it's the Royal Ballet, then I'm sure that the performance will dazzle all who sees it.

Running time: 150 minutes.

Here's a link for the Live version. on the 11th of April.

Here's a link for the Encore version on the 16th of April.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy.

55th Eden Court Blog - Royal Opera House: Madame Butterfly

One of the most popular operas in the world, Madame Butterfly is a heart-breaking story based on the time when Japan first opened it's ports to the outside world and changed from a medieval-like era to a modern country over night.  The follows the American sailor B.F. Pinkerton and his marriage to Cio-Cio-San in a Western romanticised version of Japan, set in the town of Nagasaki.

Running time: 165 minutes.

Here's a link to the live version on the 30th of March.

Here's a link to the encore version on the 2nd of April.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy.

The Royal Ballet of Sleeping Beauty is coming to Eden Court

The Royal Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty is coming to Eden Court.

First choreographed by Tchaikovsky in 1890, Sleeping Beauty has stunned all who's seen it with its classical ballet, music and dancers.

We know the fairytale, thanks to Disney, who used Tchaikovsky's score for the soundtrack of the classic animated film.  Princess Aurora is cursed as a baby by an evil witch to die when she pricks her finger on a spinal on the 16th birthday, but is saved by fairies who alter the cursed so Aurora won't die, but all asleep with only the kiss of her true love with the power to break the spell.

Running time: 180 minutes.

Here's a link for the live version on the 28th of February in the Cinema.  

Here's a link for the Encore version on the 5th of March in the Cinema.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy The Royal Ballet's version of the legendary Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty.

The Steamie is returning to Eden Court

Do please come to Eden Court for the 30th anniversary of one of Scotland's beloved plays.

It's Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) in Glasgow, and in a wash house, washers Dolly, Magrit, Doreen and Mrs Culfeathers hurry to get their workload done before the clock strikes midnight, with help from the not-so helpful Andy.  Join them through all their laughs and cries in the play that has been performed since 1987.

Here's a link for tickets.

I hope that you will book early, come, see and enjoy the 30th anniversary of this beloved play for all.

The 40th Anniversary Rally of the Inverness Fiddlers Rally

The Inverness Fiddlers' Rally is coming to Eden Court for their 40th Anniversary Rally.

The Fiddlers Rally is to be joined by fellow enthusiasts from all over Scotland, making an orchestra of over a 100 players, playing a range of traditional music from Scotland and beyond.  There will be a range of guest artists, such as local Gregor Borland, who, I've heard, makes the playing of the fiddle look easy.

Here's a link for tickets on the 4th of March.  Do hurry, last year was a near sell-out.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy the show.

Spartacus - Eden Court's birthday tribute to legendary Kirk Douglas

On the 9th of December, the American actor Kirk Douglas turns 100!  So on the 11th, Eden Cour is showing one of his classic films, the 1960's Spartacus.

Based on a historical figure, the film Spartacus follows Kirk Douglas as he leads a rebellion against the Roman Republic, who have enslaved and uses him as a gladiator for sport.

Running time: 196 minutes

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Starring:
Kirk Douglas
Laurence Olivier
Jean Simmons

Here's a link to the Eden Court website for tickets.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy Kirk Douglas's classic film.

Happy 100th Birthday Kirk Douglas!

50th Eden Court Blog - It's A Wonderful Life returns to Eden Court

The 1946 classic black and white film is returning to Eden Court, without which Christmas just wouldn't be complete.

Running time: 129 minutes

Director: Frank Capra

Starring:
James Stewart
Donna Reed

Here's a link to the Eden Court website for more information and the tickets.

Here's a link to my previous blog when It's A Wonderful Life came to Eden Court back in 2014.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy this classic Christmas film as it returns to Eden Court Cinema.  Happy Christmas!

Rogue One

Set just before the events of the first of the original 1977 classic Star Wars film, Rogue One follows a band of Rebels who are tasked in stealing the plans for Death Star, which is near being completed.

Director: Gareth Edwards

Cast:
Felicity Jones
Mad Mikkelsen
Riz Ahmed
Ben Mendelsohn
Forest Witaker
and, of course, Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones)

Here's a link for tickets.

For Subtitled Screening, here's a link.

For Autism Friendly Screening, here's a link.

For Dream and Scream Screening, here's a link.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy this spin-off of the Star Wars films.  I wonder what Peter Cushing might of thought of this film.

A United Kingdom - A true story of love

Based on the true story of Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams.  Seretse Khama is the King of Bechuanaland (modern-day Botswana) and Ruth Williams is London office worker who fall in love despite their skin colour (black and white) and the flood of fierce outrage for their marriage in 1947 causes, in Britain and in Africa.

Running time: 111 minutes.

Director: Amma Asante.

Starring:
David Oyelowo
Rosamund Pike
Jack Davenport
Tom Felton

For tickets, follow this link here.

For Subtitled Screening, here's a link.

For Dream and Scream Screening, here's a link.

For Silver Linings Screening, here's link.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy the film.

Passengers flies for Eden Court

Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt star together as passengers on a space ship on its way to a new planet with its passengers in a state of sleep.  However, the two passengers wake up 90 years too early and, as their attraction for each other grows, they must find out what the problem is before the situation grows out of control and find out why.

Here's a link to the Eden Court website for tickets to see the film.

For the silver lining screening, here's a link.

For subtitled screening, follow this link.

Director: Morten Tyldum

Cast:
Jennifer Lawrence
Chris Pratt
Michael Sheen

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy this new science-fiction film.

Moana

From the creators of Frozen, Moana follows a princess on a high-seas journey to complete an unfinished quest of one of her ancestors'.

Here's a link for tickets to see the film.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy another of Disney's animated films.

45th Eden Court Blog - The Royal Ballet of the Nutcracker (Live)

Here's a chance to see a version of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker on the 8th of December.

Set on Christmas Eve, Carla is given a nutcracker, who comes alive and guides her through on a magical adventures to places such as Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets in search of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince.

Here's a link to the Eden Court website for more information and tickets.

For the encore version on the 11th of December: here's a link.

The show will be shown in the Cinema.  Perfect for Christmas.

Running time: 135 minutes

Director: Peter Wright

I hope that you will come and enjoy this classic ballet story.

The Panto is here at Eden Court!

From the panto that has brought Aladdin, Mother Goose and Peter Pan to Eden Court.

This year, the panto is the story of Dick Whittington.  Based on an English traditional story, surrounding the real-life story of Richard Whittington who became Lord Mayor of London during the early 1400s and escaping poor background, the panto is putting a Highland twist and lots of fun, music and laughs.

Here's a link for tickets.

I hope that you will come to Eden Court and you will enjoy this year's panto, and have many laughs.

Dirty Dancing on its way to Eden Court

For fans of the 1987 film, the stage version of the infamous story is coming to Eden Court.

The performance follows young 17-year-old Frances "Baby"Houseman when she travels with her family to a holiday resort and where she meets Johnny Castle, a dance instructor, who teaches her new dance moves and how to fall in love.  Soon their friendship is thrown into the deep end and it will make everyone who's seen it agreed that it's (I've Had) The Time of my Life.

Here's a link to the Eden Court website for more information and tickets.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy the time of your life.

Arrival lands at Eden Court Cinema

The latest science-fiction film featuring aliens visiting planet Earth lands at Eden Court Cinema.

When some strange shaped alien space ships lands across the globe, the US military gets group of scientists together to find answers about the new arrivals.  Leaded by Louise Banks (played by Amy Adams), the team races against the clock as the world sits on the edge of war, but finding the answers wanted may threaten not only their lives, but the fate of the world and humanity.

Director - Denis Villeinuve

Starring:
Amy Adams
Jeremy Renner
Forest Whitaker

Running time: 116 mins

For more information and tickets, here's a link.

For the Dream and Scream version, here's a link.

For the Subtitled version, here's a link.

I hope that you might come and see this new science-fiction film and you will enjoy it.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them comes to Eden Court

J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter world is expanding into new area as the new prequel film Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them comes to Eden Court Cinema.

Set before the main Harry Potter series, the film follows Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne) when he travels to 1926 New York, with a suitcase full of strange creatures locked inside.  When they escape, Scamander must act quickly before the escaped creatures threaten the peace between the Wizarding and the Muggle worlds.

Director - David Yates

Starring:
Eddie Redmayne
Ezra Miller
Colin Farrell

For more information and tickets, here's a link.

For more information on the subtitled version, here's a link.

For the Autism Friendly Screening version, here's a link.

I hope that you may come and see this new spin-off of the magical world created by J. K. Rowling.

40th Eden Court Blog - Review of The Broons

Last Wednesday, I saw the performance of The Broons.  And I enjoyed it very much.

Based on the weekly comic strip from the The Sunday Post, the family is of working class, with the members being: Paw, Maw, Granpaw, Hen (Henry), Daphne, Joe (Joseph), Maggie (Margaret), Horace, The Twins and The Bairn.

The play began with the family trying to get ready for a family photo (perhaps a reference to the very first comic strip, where the family attempt the same thing), only to receive the news surprising news that Maggie has just got engaged just the camera goes click.  After that, the play follows the family as they get ready for the wedding, with Maw worried about the possibly that the family won't being staying close by anymore, and Hen and Daphne try to arrange a date for themselves, only to end up dating each other.

The play was a fantastic play, full of laughs and music, possibly a reference to the 80 years and changing times since the family first appeared on the 8th of March 1936.  There was a reference to Oor Wullie, who appeared beside the Broons on the same day.  The first reference to Wullie was when the Twins bring a bucket full of random objects (including Granpaw's false teeth), and the second reference was at the end when Wullie runs on asking where his bucket is.  Oh how I enjoyed the performance.

I do hope that The Broons will keep on going entertaining us with their funny stories.

A Special Thanks to those who made The Broons appear on stage and those who performed an enjoyable play and A Very Special Thanks to R. D. Lows and Dudley D. Watkins for being The Broons into our lives.

Dramalab's New Production for December

The creative drama group at Eden Court Theatre, Dramalab, is returning to the OneTouch Theatre with a performance of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.  First published in 1843, Dicken's novella has never gone out of printed and has been adapted to both screen and stage many times over the years, and I'm looking forward to performing this wonder Christmas story on stage.

For the previous performances, Dramalab has been using the stage where the audience is on one side of the stage.  This year, Dramalab will be using a traverse stage, where the audience will be on two sides of the stage.  Sounds fun.

For more information from the Eden Court website, here's a link.

I hope that you will come, see and enjoy it.

Captain America: Civil War

Here comes the latest of the Marvel's Avengers film series: Captain America: Civil War. 


Set a couple of years after the previous Avengers films (Age of Ultron), Captain America (Steve Rogers) and Iron Man (Tony Stark) find themselves pitted against each other when politicians try to limit the actions of the world's greatest superheroes.  Stark wishes to follow the politicians, Rogers is against the idea and the Avengers quickly breaks apart


Running Time: 147 minutes


Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo


Starring:
Chris Evans                 Steve Rogers/Captain America
Scarlett Johansson       Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Robert Downey Jr.      Tony Stark/Iron Man
Tom Hollander            Peter Parker/Spider-Man


Here's the link to the Eden Court website for more information and the tickets:
Film (Shown 25th to the 29th of June)
Subtitled (Shown on the 25th of June)


I hope that you will come, see and enjoy the latest film from Marvel Avengers films

The Jungle Book film 2016

For fans of the classic animated Disney film The Jungle Book, here's your chance to come and see the live-action version at Eden Court. 


Based on the books by Rudyard Kipling and the animated version of the book (the last film Walt Disney produced), the film follows the adventures of Mowgli, a young boy who has spent most of his life in the Indian Jungle with the wolves.  But when Shere Khan the tiger returns to the jungle in order to kill Mowgli, the man-club must return to his kind for his safety with his friends Baloo and Bagheera as his guides, but Mowgli's heart wishes to stay in the jungle. 


Running Time: 106 minutes


Director: Jon Favreau


Starring:
Bill Murray
Ben Kingsley
Idris Elba
Scarlett Johansson


Here's a link to the Eden Court website for more information of the film.  (Shown 4th to the 12th of June)


Here's a link to the Eden Court website for more information on the subtitled version of the film.  (Shown 4th of June)


I hope that you will come, see and enjoy the film at Eden Court.  I'm sure that many will be singing some of the Disney songs like The Bare Necessities and I Wan'na Be Like You. 

The BFG film

The Steven Spielberg film The BFG is coming to Eden Court Cinema this July. 


Awake at night, Sophie the orphan sees a giant cloaked figure walking through the streets outside her orphanage, who then takes her to Giant Country.  There she meets the BFG (the Big Friendly Giant), who creates dreams for children, they become fast friends.  But when child-eating giants threaten other children, Sophie and the BFG must figure out a plan to save them. 


Director: Steven Speilberg


Starring:
Mark Rylance      The BFG
Ruby Barnhill      Sophie


Running Time: 115 minutes


Links to the Eden Court website for more information and the tickets to the film:
The Main film
The Subtitled film
The Autism Friendly Screening film
The Dream and Scream Screening film 


There's a link to the trailer on YouTube. 


The film is coming just in time for the hundred's birthday of the author, Roald Dahl, whose book the film is based upon.  Roald Dahl wrote many children books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (that was been adapted twice, first in 1971 (with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, and considered a classic) and second in 2005 (with Jonny Depp as Willy Wonka)), James and the Giant Peech, Fantastic Mr Fox and George's Marvellous Medicine.  Dahl even wrote the script for two of Ian Fleming's books, You Only Live Twice in 1967 (with Sean Connery as James Bond) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968 (starring Dick Van Dyke).  A dictionary has been made explaining the words Dahl made up for his books. 


Roald Dahl (1916 - 1990) was a fantastic children's book writer. 


I hope that you will come, see and enjoy this story of friendship, written and directed by two fantastic storytellers. 

35th Eden Court Blog - Rhythm of the Dance

If you're a fan of Irish dancing, then you will be delighted to hear that it's coming to Eden Court Theatre under the name Rhythm of the Dance.  This show will celebrate the rich history of Irish dancing, presented by world champion dancers, ranging from modern to ancient dances. 


Date and time of show:
27th of July at 7.30 pm


Link to the Eden Court website for more information:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/rhythm-of-the-dance

Updated on the 9th on June at 14.22:

Link to the Rhythm of the Dance website for more information about the show:
http://www.rhythmofthedance.com/

Link to the Rhythm of the Dance website for information on the show's tour:
http://www.rhythmofthedance.com/dates.php

Link to the Rhythm of the Dance website for the trailer:
http://www.rhythmofthedance.com/video.php

End of update.

I hope that you will come and enjoy the show. 

Eye in the Sky - one of Alan Rickman's final films

Starring the Helen Mirren and the late Alan Rickman, Eye in the Sky, details how modern warfare is fought, using drones in the sky. 


While tracking down terrorists, a deadly plot by the terrorists is discovered.  In order to prevent the attack, the terrorists need to be taken out, but the drone pilot spots a young girl near the target, leading the military leader to argue what is the best option now. 


Director:            Gain Hood


Starring:
Helen Mirren
Alan Rickman (who sadly died last January during port-production earlier this year)
Aaron Paul
Barkhad Abdi


Running Time:  102 minutes


Days shown:      29 April - 5 May


Link to Eden Court website for more information:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/eye-in-the-sky


I hope that you will enjoy this thriller film. 

Jane Got A Gun film

Starring Natalie Portman (Star Wars, Black Swan), Jane Got A Gun is a western film in which a young pioneer woman with a mysterious past living in New Mexico.  Soon her past comes back to haunt her when her husband returns to her door with a bullet wound, and she has to ask her former fiancé for help. 


Showing days:    22 April - 5 May

Running time:     98

Director:             Gavin O'Connor

Cast:                   Natalie Portman

                           Joel Edgerton

                           Ewan McGregor

Link to the Eden Court website for more information:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/jane-got-a-gun


Link to the Eden Court website (Scream & Dream) for more information:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/jane-got-a-gun-dream-scream


Link to the Eden Court website (Subtitled) for more information:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/jane-got-a-gun-subtitled


I hope that you will enjoy this Western action film. 

The James Plays

For history lovers, here comes a trilogy of plays about three kings of Scotland, the first three King James's of Scotland.

James I 
After being a prisoner in England for many year, King James returns finds that he has to restore order to his kingdom.

James II 
Crowned at the age of 6, James II is overruled by leading noblemen.  But as he approaches adulthood, he starts his struggle to reclaim his place as king.

James III
King James III is loved and disliked by many in his kingdom as he attempts to keep order in the kingdom.  Can his wife, the queen, Margaret of Denmark, help him in saving the country from trouble.

A link to Eden Court website for more information and the tickets:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/strands/the-james-plays

I hope that you will enjoy the trilogy of plays that portray a certain point in Scotland's history.

Superman Vs. Batman: Dawn of Justice

For fans of Superman and Batman who have waited for these two heroes to finally meet on screen for live-action film, the wait is over.  The film will even be the first film screen appearance of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg.

Clark Kent (aka Superman) and Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) meets up the first time, but Batman doesn't trust Superman that much.

Running time: 151 minutes

Director: Zack Snyder

Starring:
Ben Affleck
Henry Cavill
Amy Adams
Jesse Eisenberg
Diane Lane
Laurence Fishburne
Jeremy Irons
Holly Hunter
Gal Gabot

Link to Eden Court website for more information:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice

For Subtitled version:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-subtitled

For Dream and Scream version:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-dream-scream

I hope that you will enjoy this action-packed superhero film.

30th Eden Court Blog - The Railway Children Encore steams to Eden Court

E Nesbit's best loved story The Railway Children is set steam onto Eden Court's stage next month for one afternoon, the 28th of March at 2pm. 


The story follows three children, Roberta, Phyllis and Peter as their father first leaves their London home, then they leave London with their mother to live in the Yorkshire countryside, in a cottage called the Three Chimneys, right beside a railway line.  As a train goes by, they wave to an old gentleman, who waves back at them.  Soon, the three children makes new friends in the countryside and at the railway station and have many adventures, such as saving a train from an accident and helping first a Russian find his family then a local boy who hurts his leg while running, all of this before their father returns to them after Roberta discovers a terrible secret. 


Link to the Eden Court website for more information and tickets:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/the-railway-children


I hope that you will come and enjoy one of the most beloved stories when it comes next month. 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens returns to Eden Court

For Star Wars fans, if you missed the first of the Sequel Trilogy, here comes your second chance to see the film. 


Set "In a galaxy far, far away...", the Star Wars returns, set some thirty years after the Original Trilogy, Return of the Jedi.  Despite the fall of the Empire, conflict still rages in the galaxy between good and evil. 


Running time: 135 minutes


Director: J.J. Abrams


Starring:
Mark Hamill
Carrie Fisher
Harrison Ford
Peter Mayhew
Anthony Daniels
Kenny Baker
(From the original cast.  Daniels and Baker having starred in Original and Prequel Trilogies)


John Boyega (who has won a BAFTA Rising Star Award)
Daisy Ridley


Viewing days: 18 - 22 March


Link to Eden Court website for tickets and for more information (complete with film trailer):
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/star-wars-the-force-awakens-1


Link to the YouTube video telling of the beginning of VIII's production:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQQMLE4FuIQ


I hope that you enjoy Star Wars, and May the Force be with you. 

Scottish Ballet - Wee Hansel and Gretel - January 2017

For fans of Scottish Ballet who loved Hansel and Gretel, a "wee version" of the show is coming to Eden Court's Empire Theatre for one night in January, next year, accompanied with the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.  I'd advise that you get your tickets quick and ready for January, or you may miss the wee version of one the best known, and best loved, stories in the fairy tale world. 


Link for the Eden Court website for more information and tickets:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/wee-hansel-gretel


I hope to you will enjoy the show when it comes. 

Dad's Army

One of Britain's beloved comedies is marching back to our screens this month. 


Based on BBC's TV series, Dad's Army, was originally created by Jimmy Perry and David Croft in 1968 and ran for 9 series till 1977.  The main setting for the series is the coastal town of Walmington-on-Sea during the Second World War with the Germans just 25 miles away on the southern side of the English Channel, threating to invade.  Dad's Army follows a platoon of the Home Guard (originally called the Local Defence Volunteers), which was set up the first frontline defence in case of such an event.  The platoon, lead by Captain Mainwaring with Sergeant Wilson and Lance Corporal Jones, is often pitted against the local Chief Air Raid Warden Hodges and neighbouring platoon, lead by Captain Square, to comical effects. 


Man of the best-known catchphrases are:
"Don't panic!" - Often shouted by Jones
"They don't like it up them!" - Said by Jones when talking about the bayonet
"Permission to speck sir." - Asked by Jones when he thinks of idea and wants to tell Mainwaring
"You stupid boy!" - Often said by Mainwaring to Pike when Pike does something Mainwaring doesn't approve of
"Do you think that's wise sir?" - Asked by Wilson when questioning Mainwaring's plans
"We're doomed! Doomed!" - Said by Frazer in a bad situation
"A wild and lonely place you understand..." - Frazer's description of his home island, Barra
"Put that light out!" - Shouted by Hodges when he sees a light during the night


The original cast from the TV series:
Captain Mainwaring                       Arthur Lowe
Sergeant Wilson                              John Le Mesurier
Lance Corporal Jones                     Clive Dunn
Private Frazer                                  John Laurie
Private Walker                                James Beck
Private Godfrey                               Arnold Ridley
Private Pike                                     Ian Lavender
Chief Air Raid Warden Hodges      Bill Pertwee
Vicar                                                Frank Williams
Yeatman                                          Edward Sinclair


Note: Ian Lavender and Frank Williams are one or two of the few from the cast from the TV series left and Bill Pertwee wrote a book about the making of the TV series. 


Link to the Eden Court website for more information: https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/dad-s-army


I hope that you will enjoy the film. 

The Revenant

Inspired on a true story. 


While exploring the wild wilderness, Hugh Glass is attacked by a bear and left for dead.  However, he survives and is determined to travel 120 miles, braving native American tribes and a harsh winter environment so he can get revenge on the man who left him for dead. 


Running time: 151 minutes


Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu (who is nominated for Academy Award for Best Director)


Cast members:
Leonardo DiCaprio (who is nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor)
Tom Hardy (who is nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor)
Domhnall Gleeson


The film has been nominated for Academy Award for Best Picture.  The film has won a couple of Golden Globe Awards (including Best Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Actor)


Links for more information:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/the-revenant
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/the-revenant-subtitled-screening


Hope that you enjoy the film. 

In the Heart of the Sea film

The story that inspired the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville comes to life on screen at Eden Court's cinema.


Set in the year of 1820, the New England whaler ship, the Essex, comes across a whale that blows them away, causing the crew to work hard to survive and will, three decades later, inspire the infamous novel. 


Director: Ron Howard


Writer: Charles Leavitt


Cast members:
Chris Hemsworth
Benjamin Walker
Cillian Murphy
Tom Holland
Ben Whishaw
Brendan Gleeson


The film will be at Eden Court between Friday the 15th and Thursday the 21st of this month. 


Link to the Eden Court website for more information and for the tickets:
https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/in-the-heart-of-the-sea


I hope that you will come to Eden Court to see this film and enjoy it. 

Dramalab's December Performance

Last December, we, the Dramalab group, didn't do The Addams Family, but instead we did a play called The Golden Nugget of Badcrow written by John Batty. 


The idea of the story was like Carry On Cowboy meets Monty Python.  The Indians find a golden rock-sized nugget and settle down beside it.  News of the nugget reaches a trapper called Murdo Sprockett who goes in search of it, with an Mexican woman called Consuela, and finds it, but then discovers that he can't move it, so he decides to return later for it, however he then gets caught in one of the his traps.  Dying, he asks the passing postman (Wells Fargo) to deliver a message to his wife, Constance, telling her that she "owns" the nugget.  The trapper's wife decides to claim the nugget, much to her daughter's (Lucinda) greatest dislike. 


Meanwhile, the villains of the story, the McMaster boys, Sly (the meanest) and Lennie (the dumbest of the two), come by and frighten the Indians away, but struggle in finding the nugget (it being painted by Consuela).  Then the town of Badcrow is built near by.  The "Golden Nugget Saloon" is run by Organza with Cindy and Barbie as her salon girls. 


On their way west, the Sprocketts meets three nuns (Sister Ignatius, Sister Agatha (who is tone deaf) and Sister Bridget (a new recruit)), who too are heading west to deliver the "good news".  Meanwhile a man called Stan enters Badcrow (In the script he has a horse.  But John Batty found an old camel costume, but the camel was turned into a rat after the first night of performance).  Stan finds a note from Murdo saying "You own the golden nugget of Badcrow.  Ask the Mexican."  When the McMaster boys sees Stan's pet, they knock him out to get his pet, then they knock each other out when they argue who owns the pet, who then walks off.  When Stan walks up, he has lost his memory and, upon finding the Sheriff's badge, he thinks that he is the sheriff and locks the McMaster boys up.  The salon girls gets Stan to release the boys for a drink when the Sprocketts and the nuns came running into town the Indians chasing them, but are frightened off by Constance.  After a few introductions, the McMaster boys are frightened off and everyone starts to settle down in Badcrow. 


Meanwhile, the Indian Chief's son, Laughing Cow, played by yours truly, is growing up into manhood and is sent into the desert to prove that he's worthy for manhood.  While he chases a rat for dinner, he meets Stan's wife and daughter, Rita and Tracey, who ask him if he has seen Stan, leaving Laughing Cow confused and he wonders off then the ladies attempt to show him photos of Stan but lose interest in the Indian. 


Lucinda finally has enough of the west and decides to return home (east).  She meets Rita and Tracey and points them the right direction.  Then Laughing Cow chases the rat by and away, "saving" Lucinda from the rat.  Constance and Stan approach the Indians for peace as Laughing Cow and Lucinda marry.  Meanwhile the McMaster boys, having taken the note Stan left, attempt to get information of the golden nugget from Consuela, who has taken refuge with the nuns.  The boys decide the disguise themselves to closer.  Sly dresses up as the Pope, but Lennie dresses up as gorilla, much to Sly's annoyance.  The plan almost works, but the boys are frightened off. 


When the locals are celebrating peace, news comes that the McMaster boys had kidnapped Consuela.  Stan decides to step in, just as the golden nugget is found, and just as Rita and Tracey barge on the scene.  The McMaster boys are frightened off the last time when Rita hits Lennie's gun, causing it to go off and the bullet to ricochet about and hitting Sly's bum.  When Stan tells his wife that he "doesn't know her", Rita hits on the head and he regains his memory.  The play ends with Organza telling the golden nugget was shared out to everyone and peace continued on. 


We all had fun doing the performance.  Playing an Indian wasn't too bad, it was fun.  On the first night, David, who played a witch doctor/medicine woman in the Indian tribe and the rat Laughing Cow chases, played the front end of a camel.  But as he walked on stage from the audience side door, he missed his footing and slipped off the stage, but he got up and continued the performance.  For the remaining two nights, the camel became the rat.  I think that David deserves a medal for bravely. 


I wonder what we're doing next December. 

Scottish Ballet - Cinderella

The Scottish Ballet is returning to Eden Court Theatre with a performance of Cinderella. 


I think that we all know the storyline thanks to the release of live-action Disney film from last year with Lily James as the title character. 


I hope that you will enjoy the performances of this beloved fairy tale. 


Link to the Eden Court website for more information and tickets: https://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/scottish-ballet-cinderella-1