December 15th 2009

GRAHAM COOK

The Studio Theatre Club has lost one more of its original City Watch.  Graham Cook died the week after appearing as Recent Runes in the STC's Unseen University.  It was unexpected, and a huge shock to all who knew him.  Graham was a real character, irritating at times (like all of us!), but always chatting away about something and with a wide range of interests - including table-top drumming, local radio, football (as Wincanton regulars will know) and of course his career as a film extra - watch out for him in the next series of 'Lewis'.  He was also the first, and in many ways the definitive Nobby Nobbs - heartbroken not to have been Nobby in 'Hogfather'!

Graham hadn't a malicious bone in his body... for the STC, he'll leave a huge hole that will take some time to heal over... he really will be sadly missed - by old stagers who've known him for 22 years, and by newbies who only knew him in Unseen Academicals.

Stephen Briggs

-o-

December 12th 2009

HOGSWATCH CARDS & NATION

Dear Wonderful Fans,

Well, some…  A few…  Well, at least three of you…

First a little seasonal note.  We are sending out no Hogswatch cards this year, but the money instead – £10,000 – has gone to the RICE Centre, thus helping the cause of Alzheimer’s research and treatment and the cause of keeping your mantelpiece totally uncluttered and thus not being a fire hazard (according to Health and Safety Executive directive 1.618GB part II).

On a totally different note, I went off to see Nation last week.  Based on the copious number of reports from people who attended the various previews, I can report that the company have really got to grips with it now.  There are fiddly bits I have discussed with them, and the sad fact is that I don’t think Nation could be done “to the book” without having a stage production of Wagnerian proportions.  The theatre was two-thirds full on a rainy Wednesday and the applause long and magnificent.  I think I’ll go again, more than once, and think you should, too.

See you at Kings Place on Monday evening.

-o-

December 1st 2009

THE NEW YEAR

It's official; we can soon wave goodbye to the Year of the Pensive Hare as we welcome in the...

' Year of the Happy Goose '