a week that lasts for years

Spectaculars Pantomimes and 70s Nights

2008

Saturday night entertainment
Jean Saunders: Celebrities Galore
One of the perks of a writing career is meeting celebrities. Jean entertains with some anecdotes about those she has known. Unmissable ...!

During the week ...

Room 101: by popular request, we are repeating Swanwick's hit version of the popular BBC television programme. Join the VC and guests for a very special Diamond Year show. Your vote counts!

Ghost Stories: be afraid ... be very afraid. Book your place behind a chair as Rosemary Robb chills and thrills with tales of the macabre kind.

The popular Poetry Readaround will be led this year by Penny Baxter.
The poetry read-a-round attracts many who are interested in poetry. It is always enjoyable because there are so many different poems read out. These can be funny, informative or serious and there is an opportunity for all to participate.
Penny trained as a nurse and midwife, joined the army as a nurse and married. As an army wife she was in demand in Malaysia because of her Midwifery skills. "At times I delivered babies close to the padi (rice fields) and jungle. Some moments have been alarming and required an armed guard to travel with me and my patient to hospital," said Penny.
Because of working for the British Army during the Malaysian Emergency, together with many others, Penny was awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.
Since retiring, Penny has been in charge of a creative writing group near home. Penny is writing an autobiography about her time as a nurse in the 50s that shows the changes that have occurred in hospitals.

Dying to write.William (Bill) Murtha:
How a close brush with death inspired a potential best-seller.
In 1999, at a crucial period when his life was rapidly spiralling out of control, William had a close brush with death. What William saw, felt and experienced on that incredible evening out at sea would totally change his life and would alter every previously held perception he had. William gave up his career to focus absolutely on writing the book that had to be written.

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2007

Sometimes writers lose sight of what they are about and need a dose of historical nostalgia to guide them along the trail.

Even then, opinions diverge as to the best way forward.


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2006
In addition to the pantomime of 2006 a 70s disco night was organized during which a table quiz and a disco took place.

Sadly, one Swanwicker, during the reading of the answers to the quiz, heard for the first time that Elvis had died and became distressed.

He was comforted by people wearing large wigs.

This themed evening was repeated in 2007.

Susanne

The 70s Djs worked in tandem and seemed to some to be joined at the hips, though this may have been an illusion.

They were wearing wigs as well.

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2005

In 1991, during an after hours discussion among friends it became obvious that there were a surprising number who confessed to thespian leanings.

In an unguarded moment, Denis Bryant agreed to write a pantomime suitable for an audience of writers and to cast and direct the show into the bargain.

The result was “A.K.A Cinderella” which brought the house down.

For the next four years Denis wrote the panto scripts until he was unable to continue due to circumstance and for the following five years the task was taken over by Marion Hough.

In recent years the Swanwick Players provided delegates with a themed “Swanwick Spectacular” showcasing a variety of talents, but in 2006 the panto was back.

Denis, who has written pantos for a number of drama groups over the years agreed once again to take up his pen.

The title for the 2006 panto was “Jack and the Queen’s talk”, so seats were booked early for a script laced with laughter.

Oh yes they were!!

Marion Hough

finale pic © Angela Lansbury