Our speaker in October was Colin Skeaping who brought his dog Sandy, who appeared in the Nomad’s production of Annie in January this year. Sandy was the star of our luncheon.

Colin explained that he had trained bearded collies since 1970 for work in film, television and theatre. He was invited by the Waltham Playhouse to train one of his dogs for their production of Annie and Finn performed in thirty-five productions of the show and Tully in seventeen. Finn was meant to be in Annie but died so Tully and Sandy performed in the show. Sandy was so hyperactive that he was taken off the show as neither of our ‘Annies’ could cope with him, so Tully completed the performances. Since Finn’s passing Sandy has calmed down and has been in Annie several times. Finn had worked for years with Colin and Tully benefited from working with Finn. Colin illustrated how Sandy followed his hand signals as it would not be possible to speak on stage. Sandy’s eyes never left Colin’s face and performed each task perfectly, even playing dead when Colin performed his hand into a gun and fired it at him. In the second part of Colin’s talk, he told how he started as a stunt man in 1967 as a stand-in for actors and actresses (wearing wigs of course), when he and fellow stuntmen and occasionally women took great risks, which would not be allowed today. Colin worked in Disney and the early Bond films In 1976 Colin was signed up for a “small film”, Star Wars, and he was body double for Luke Skywalker. Thirteen years ago Colin joined Midsomer Murders and. every time someone is to be killed, Colin is asked how to do it. His work involves motorcycle and car crashes and he has doubled for Joanna Lumley and Joan Simms. Our members asked many questions and of course, Sandy was very much admired.

Our speaker in November will be Leonard Beighton. Leonard is closely involved in Churches Together. Since his retirement he has travelled the world, involved in many international organisations, particularly with the local Church involvement in Uganda and Kosovo. Any member unable to attend the luncheon please contact me by Sunday, 15th November (01483-283507).

Our annual Christmas Luncheon is on Wednesday, 16th December

Mary Brooks.

This is a traditional family pantomime and an excellent introduction for small children to the world of theatre. It tells the story of Jack, a poor miller’s son who inherits only a cat when his father dies. Yet this cat can talk and is very smart. Soon Puss comes up with a plan for Jack to become rich and marry the princess he has long loved.

Puss in Boots has a handsome hero and a lovely princess who has a mind of her own. There is also a villain Sir Roger who charms the King and Queen into thinking he is the perfect suitor for their daughter, while his two servants Nosmo and Nopar King undermine all his efforts with their incompetence.

by ILC Creative

Directed by Jeff Wightwick

Musical Director James Marr

Choregrapher Wendy Denny

14th to 17th January & 19th 24th January 2009

*** BOOK ONLINE NOW ***

Tickets can be purchased online from mid October.

The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop (in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious “Stage Door Slasher”) assemble for a backer’s audition of their new show at the Westchester estate of a wealthy “angel.” The house is replete with sliding panels, secret passageways and a German maid who is apparently four different people—all of which figure diabolically in the comic mayhem which follows when the infamous “Slasher” makes his reappearance and strikes again—and again. As the composer, lyricist, actors and director prepare their performance, and a blizzard cuts off any possible retreat, Bodies start to drop in plain sight, knives spring out of nowhere, masked figures drag their victims behind swiveling bookcases, and accusing fingers point in all directions. However, and with no thanks to the bumbling police inspector who snowshoes in to investigate, the mystery is solved in the nick of time and the “Slasher” unmasked—but not before the audience has been treated to a sidesplitting good time and a generous serving of the author’s biting, satiric and refreshingly irreverent wit.

The show is to be performed at The Nomads 17 – 21 November 2009