Helmdon Presents - News & Activities

A "Trailblazing" Film - 27th May 2008

With only two more films after the May offering, the  Film Club is coming  to the end of the  first year of its programme,  and very varied and enjoyable the films have been, too.

We are not allowed to publicise to the general public the names of the films  screened, but it is interesting to note that the film on May 30th appeared in the top quarter of The Times Top 100 Films of All Time.   Called “trailblazing”,  it is tantalizing not to be able to reveal more.

Why not come along?

Wedding Story - 17th April 2008

Any of you who have young children or grandchildren aged between 4 and 9 will want to book tickets for “Wedding Story”. This is being staged in the school hall on Friday 25 April.  Using magic, music, animation and laughter Wedding Story tells of a child who sets out on an imaginary journey to solve his problems.  He journeys into a world of castles, colossal wedding cakes and fearsome pickled onions where the Queen is imprisoned by a fearful Giant.  Is it all his fault? Can he rescue her in time?  Will he be able to come out from underneath the table and celebrate with his mum and his new step-dad?

The show starts at 7pm and lasts for an hour.  Family tickets £20 or adults £8 and children £6.  Refreshments available.  Please book your tickets in advance from Morag on 768922 or Chris 760362.

Also don’t forget to polish up those dancing shoes to attend our ballroom dancing class on Friday 27 June.

In Search Of Pontiflunk - 1st April 2008

Phil Smith, writer

Helmdon Presents... hosted a very unusual evening of theatre in the Church on 28 March - In Search of Pontiflunk. This is a new play written by Phil Smith and staged as a one man show by New Perspectives Theatre Company.

The one man in question is Josh Darcy and he played the role of the author, Phil Smith retracing the footsteps of an Edwardian Industrialist Charles Hurst, who worrying about his contribution to pollution in the early 2Oth Century, undertakes a walk from Manchester across England to Lincolnshire, with pockets full of acorns that he planted as he travelled.  Phil Smith discovered the account of the journey that Hurst wrote and set out to see if, after a hundred years, any of the oak trees remained.

There were moments of laugh out loud humour and poignant moments and triumphant moments when some of Hurst's trees are discovered. The second half of the play is largely that of Hurst's journey. A tweedy and hearty gentleman who is accompanied by his dog...........Pontiflunk. Hurst left home for many weeks to undertake this adventure and not, it seems, with his family's blessing. However he and Pontiflunk are undaunted and have many interesting encounters along the way.

Josh Darcy was completely convincing in both the roles and coupled with the back drop of the photos of Smith's walk, conjured up a real sense of the pleasures and hardships of both Smith's and Hurst's journeys.

Sadly, Pontiflunk, whilst taking a nap in a Lincolnshire village street, became an early victim of the motor car. Still, he was a free range dog and had enjoyed a good life, so we shouldn't feel too bad about that. He was buried in the Blacksmith's garden and it was the search for his grave that gave the play its title.

We were very fortunate that Phil Smith, came all the way from Exeter on the bus to see the production  and was able to chat to some of the audience at the end of the play. The actor and his roadie came from Nottinghamshire and watching them heave a van load of equipment into the church, it struck me that this is a very hard way to earn a living. Not something you would do unless you had a passion for it. This clearly is the secret of these wonderful theatrical performances that we are privileged to enjoy. To see a talented actor in a very interesting and quirky production was an unexpected delight.

Up-date on In Search Of  Pontiflunk - 20th March 2008

Helmdon Presents  ….  has just learned that Phil Smith (who conceived the idea, did the walk and wrote the play) will be in the audience and is happy to answer your questions during the interval or at the end of the performance.  This is a really excellent opportunity to see a great production and discover how it came about and what aspects of his experiences the author decided to script and those he left out!

In Search of Pontiflunk is a lovely insight into the changing countryside of Britain, its people and oneself.  Quality drama by an  award winning group of professionals.   Tickets still available (or turn up on the night) - see below

Helmdon Presents .... In Search Of  Pontiflunk - 28th February 2008

Helmdon Presents is now selling tickets for In Search Of Pontiflunk. This is a show by New Perspectives Theatre – the regional rural touring company for the East Midlands.  For over 30 years they have commissioned and produced new work that tours to rural communities in local venues. The show will take place in Helmdon Church on Friday 28 March at 7.30pm.  Refreshments will be available prior to the performance and during the interval. The production lasts about 90 minutes plus an interval.

In Search of Pontiflunk is the story of two walks separated by 100 years – Charles Hurst in the early years of the twentieth century crossing the East Midlands with his pockets full of acorns and writer Phil Smith last year in pursuit of the man behind ‘The Book of The English Oak’ and in search of a deeper understanding of the changes afoot in the English countryside today.

Phil Smith, as played with great charm and curiosity by actor Josh Darcy, is our guide through his sixteen day odyssey from Manchester, over the peaks, down through Nottinghamshire (via Sherwood Forest) to Lincolshire and Leicestershire and, eventually, the village of Morcott, the last resting place of Pontiflunk (Hurst’s dog whose untimely death cut short his adventure).

This is a classic one-man show – funny, touching storytelling, accompanied by projected images of the sights and recordings of the sounds that Phil encountered on his travels – plus other theatrical touches you’d expect from the region’s favourite rural touring company.

Tickets available from Seckington Stores, from Morag Underwood on 768922, and from Chris Bridger on 760362. Prices are £8 or £6 for concessions.

Lovely Ladies End A Successful Year - 22nd December 2007

“The Triumphs of Georgianna” was Helmdon Presents'   … latest promotion in the village on November 23rd.  A trio of lovely ladies clad in regency bustles kept us truly entertained with singing and poetry from Georgian England.  They unfurled a tale of love, disappointment

and revenge whilst we all partook of some mulled wine and mince pies.  It all added up to a very enjoyable trip to past times in merrie England.

It has been a busy autumn for Helmdon Presents… with a touring drama production On the Black Hill being staged by AJTC theatre in the church on October 28th.  The story was of twin brothers who inherited the family farm on the border of Wales and England.  Spanning almost the whole of the last century, it provided us with a fascinating insight into the changing values of rural family life through times of war and peace and a story full of pathos.

Helmdon Presents…is now also running a film club for members.  The subscription is £15 for the year (renewable in August 2008).  Members are treated to one film show each month and drinks are available.  We try to screen a variety of films both old and new, American and British and might possibly include a foreign language film in our programme if there is sufficient demand.

Theatre outings are organised when we find something that we think would be popular with a group of people.

Film Club Launched - 10th September 2007

A successful evening in August saw the launch of the Film Club.  Dates for future films are published on the programme.

Doors open at 7.30 p.m. and the film begins at 8 p.m.  Drinks are available.

Subscriptions are £15 per annum (£7.50 after February 2008).  Members' guests may attend one film per year at a charge of £2.

Charlotte Bronte Evening - 4th May 2007

Charlotte Bronte.

Whispering Dragons - 24th February 2007

The Reading Room was the venue for an enchanting evening of Chinese story telling and music. Helmdon Presents... invited story teller Nicky Rafferty and musician Ling Peng to entertain us with their rendition of traditional stories and music from China. The set and costumes were splendid but it was the musical instruments that created the atmosphere most authentically. Admittedly, I have never been to China, but one felt one was getting a real flavour of Chinese culture. The audience certainly showed their appreciation and everyone, including the children who were entranced in the front row, enjoyed the chance to talk to the performers and ask questions about the stories and the instruments.

The performers were equally impressed with the audience's facility with language when we learnt a few phrases in Mandarin. Sadly, I have since forgotten them.

The whole evening was a delightful diversion from anything else we might have been doing on a night in February and the Chinese buffet and a glass of well chosen wine all added to the enjoyment.

Coming up...

On Friday 4 May Helmdon Presents... Truly Yours C.B. The C.B. in this case being Charlotte Bronte, this is a one woman show starring Alison Neil who, using many of Charlotte's own words, gives a fascinating account of her life and work and her unusual family.

We are taking reservations for this event now and if you would like tickets please call Morag on 01295 768922 or Christine on 760362