Following 15 months of lockdowns, Thame Players are delighted to announce the re-opening of the theatre on Tuesday 6th July with a hilarious spoof on late Victorian society, Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith. Thame Players are performing the 2011 stage adaptation by Hugh Osborne, but Diary of a Nobody first appeared as a serial in Punch in 1888-9 and has never been out of print since it was published as a book in 1892.
Described as a ‘romp’, Diary of a Nobody is a comic masterpiece. It uproariously recreates the story of Charles Pooter, a middle-class bank clerk with social aspirations far beyond his status, who decides the world deserves to hear his diary. The self-regarding Mr Pooter records daily events in the lives of himself, his wife Carrie, his feckless son Lupin, and visits by his friends Mr Cummings and Mr Gowing, in the mistaken belief that all aspects of his life are worthy of note.
What’s On Stage said of the 2011 production, ‘Sensational … a rare ability to render an audience helpless with laughter and crying with emotion at the same moment … Diary of a Nobody has this in spades’ and the Daily Mail said, ‘This madcap show is inventive and funny’.
Music returns with VooDoo Room and the New Foundations
After all that laughter, VooDoo Room is the next show scheduled at the Players Theatre on Friday 16th July. A stunning trio of some of the UK’s finest musicians, members of Voodoo Room have recorded and toured with Stevie Winwood, Massive Attack, Arthur Brown, Fish, Thunder and other high-profile artists. Their performance in Thame will pay musical homage to legendary superstars such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Cream, with classics such as Hey Joe, Sunshine of Your Love, and Layla.
Following them on Friday 23rd July, West Star Studios will be presenting the New Foundations, a six-piece tribute band, who will be playing hits from the original Foundations and 60s and 70s Motown and Soul music, including ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’, ‘Baby, Now I’ve Found You’, ‘Back On My Feet Again’ and many more great hits. Audience comment from previous shows includes, ‘Absolutely fantastic’, ‘Excepional’, ‘A great night’s entertainment’, ‘You blew ‘em away’.
And Midsomer Weaves its Magic …
Thame is a major filming location for Midsomer Murders, the globally acclaimed TV phenomenon, which has been running since 1997 and is still going strong. Over 6 million people watch Midsomer Murders in the UK and millions more worldwide. Thame Players are delighted to announce a new show, The Magic of Midsomer, being held on Saturday 17th July. In the first half, Tony Long, organiser of Midsomer Tours of Thame and the author of a new book, A Midsomer Day Out, will give an illustrated talk on the origins of the show and how it has developed over nearly 25 years, highlighting locations where filming has taken place in and around Thame, with amusing anecdotes. In the second half, the actress Jane Wymark, who played DCI Tom Barnaby’s wife Joyce in many episodes of Midsomer Murders until 2011 (when the cast changed), will talk about her career and her experiences as a key member of the Midsomer Murders cast.
The Players Theatre is certainly making up for lost time with a fantastic variety of shows in July! For more information and to book tickets visit thameplayers.co.uk.
DATES:
Diary of a Nobody, a Thame Players’ production, is being performed at 7.45 pm from 6th – 10th July inclusive. Tickets are £10 (£9 concessions) from Thursday- Saturday or £8 (no concessions) on Tuesday and Wednesday only.
Voodoo Room are performing at the Players Theatre on Friday 16th July at 7.45 pm. Tickets are £15 (no concessions), either in the theatre or live streamed.
The New Foundations are performing at the Players Theatre on Friday 23rd July. Tickets are £15 (no concessions).
The Magic of Midsomer is being held on Saturday 17th July at 7.45 pm. Tickets are £12 each (no concessions), either in the theatre or live streamed.
Tickets for all shows can be purchased online at www.thameplayers.co.uk or in person from the Information Centre at Thame Town Hall (check opening times at https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/visit-thame/information-centre/).
Following government advice, social distancing guidelines will be observed. Until full capacity seating is permitted, tickets are available on a non-reserved basis only. Bar service is available on a pre-order basis only and drinks will be brought to you in your seat.
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