An excellent performance of a comic drama about rehearsing for a play. Well enjoyed by those sitting in the warm sunshine; including a heckler (all part of the show folks!!)

As always the end of term performance was very well attended by friends of DYT and family members.  We were also delighted to have the Mayor of Dover (Councillor Sue Jones), the Lady Mayoress (Councillor Rommie Philpott), the Vice Chairman of Dover District Council (Councillor Stephen Manion) and other dignitaries attending.

The Junior Theatre Dance got the show rolling with "Bingo Bongo" and this was followed by the Level I Drama performing "Rose and the Wicked Wolfee".  A take on the 'Red Riding Hood' story with a lot of opportunity for having fun with lots of laughs and action.  These were both very well done and a credit to the younger members who had clearly put a lot of effort into making a good show.

Level II Drama followed with "Frenzy in the Theatre", which is a play within a play and always tricky; needing good co-ordination and timing to make it work.  Again, it was clear that they had put a lot of effort into the performance; particularly as many of the cast were playing two or three parts.  To close the first half the Junior Dance then did a routine to "Summer Holiday".

After the interval the Level III & IV Drama and the Senior Theatre Dance combined to present "The Pied Piper".  This is an adaptation of the original Hameln story that focuses on some of the other characters along with the Piper and King Rat.  It was packed with opportunities for the cast to show off their skills in dance, drama and singing. 

The show started by introducing you to the rats, some of whom were disillusioned with living in a rubbish tip and sought adventure elsewhere; sailing in a sardine can to new places.  Then we moved to the arrival of the Piper and the first song by the rats, an excellent rock & roll piece.  The mayor of Hameln and the townsfolk want a solution to the rat problem and the Piper offers them one and sells her wares in another song.  The rats go to their watery doom singly happily to the 'Gorganzola Moon' but then the mayor reneges on the payment.  The Piper leads the children of the town to a better land in the Copperburg Mountain and the citizens realise the error of their ways.  Close with a song (reprise).  Lots of hard work both on stage and behind the scenes to produce an excellent show.

Sunday 12th July 2009:  Community Presentation of "The Pied Piper" at Connaught Park.

The weather started awful but at 9 a.m. Neville, Andrew and John were at the park to start setting up the tents and sound system.  Soon other volunteers arrived to put up the second tent (thanks to the Scouts) and the backdrop (Dover Marquee Company).  The first generator was not powerful enough but thanks to Lucas (The Louis Armstrong PH) a replacement was soon in place.  So everything was in place when the actors arrived for the first rehearsal, important because there were a few cast changes to do.  Just before 3 p.m. the sun was blazing overhead and the first of the audience arrived, followed by St. John's Ambulance.  The show went very well indeed with full advantage being taken of the new layout, a more open space than at DGSB, which put the actors closer to the audience.  Having ended with the finale song and well deserved applause the stage area was struck and tents, generators and props vanished into assorted vehicles.  A lot of behind te scenes work but well worth it.

 Another early start at 10 a.m. (Marie & Michaelhad been busy a few hours earlier) as everyone met at Harold Street to board the minibus and load props into cars; to then move to Aylesham.  Neville and Andrew had already started on the sound system at the Community Centre.  On arrival the cast had to be reallocated roles as illness had reduced the numbers and Tamzin stepped in to fill the role of the mayoress.  Rehearsing continued apace and soon it was approaching 1.30 p.m. and the arrival of the children from Aylesham County Primary and St. Joseph's Schools. 

The show went down a storm with both young and old and the songs and dance were applauded throughout.  The venue again meant that the cast had to adapt the presentation to take best advantage of the layout and were able to move through the audience and interact more; which brought even more energy to the show.  A high point to the end of the DYT Summer term.

The Aylesham event forms part of the "Theatre in Education" programme, which is in support of the community development programmes of Kent County Council and the Dover District Council Neighbourhood Forum.  Links reference TiE, KCC and DDC are:

TeacherNet-Link and TiE-Link and www.kent.gov.uk and www.doverdc.co.uk/.