Studio Theatre, of which I am a director and trustee, will be staging a production of Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Ilfracombe and Torrington, North Devon this June.

Not only is this production part of the North Devon Festival, but it is also part of the RSC Open Stages programme, which involves workshops with the RSC, mentoring and the chance to be selected to perform at the RSC at Stratford-upon-Avon. The play is directed by Bob Corwin and the cast features a number of younger performers as Studio Theatre aims to promote both Shakespeare and theatre generally.

You can book tickets online for performances at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe on Thursday 9 and Saturday 11 June  or call The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington for tickets on Friday 10 June.

The production promises enjoyment for those who already know Shakespeare and for those new to his plays.

Yesterday I was rehearsing for Oh, What a Lovely War! in the Landmark Theatre. The more I perform there, the more I realise what a wonderful theatre this is. A newcomer to the company was impressed with the facilities and agreed what a marvellous asset it is for Ilfracombe.

Yet many people dismiss the theatre because of its external appearance. I have to agree that the building’s exterior does not thrill me, but it’s really the facilities inside that really matter. We’re lucky as a small town to have a theatre like this and we should value it. It would be very easy for funding to be cut and it would not surprise me, although it would sadden me, if in a few years time we had to fight to keep the Landmark open.

If it did close, no doubt those people who grumble about it would grumble even more about the town and the lack of things to do.

Let’s be glad we’ve got the Landmark, a cracking theatre and a draw for visitors to North Devon.

In the meantime, we’re looking to see all these seats filled on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 November.

The Sound of Musicals features the music and lyrics of Rodgers & Hammerstein and is devised and directed by Lee Baxendale.

A glitzy revue of showstoppers from the most successful musical theatre duo ever. Featuring songs from their classic shows, including:

• Carousel
• Oklahoma
• South Pacific
• The King & I
• The Sound of Music

Join the cast members of Studio Theatre – Rachel Forbes, Debbie Hadley, Elizabeth Kemp, Julie Moore, Elena Wright, Laurence Butler, Neil Rudd and Stuart Thompson – for an enchanted evening as they fly on a bright cloud of music singing a few of their favourite things!

• Sunday 9 August 2009 – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
• Sunday 16 August 2009 – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe

Performances start at 8.15pm.

Tickets £8.50. Family ticket: £28.00. Call the Landmark box office on 01271 324242.

Hobson's Choice @ Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe & Croyde & Pilton, North Devon

Studio Theatre will be staging Harold Brighouse’s comedy, Hobson’s Choice, at

• Friday 24 July 2009 – Pilton Church Hall – tickets on the door £7
• Sunday 26 July 2009 – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe – tickets £8.50. Family ticket: £28.00.
• Thursday 30 July2009 – Croyde Village Hall – tickets on the door £7
• Sunday 2nd August 2009 – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe – tickets £8.50. Family ticket: £28.00.

Book Landmark tickets online or call the Landmark box office on 01271 324242.

Set in 1880s Salford, Henry Horatio Hobson is a successful shop owner selling shoes made by his employee Will Mossop. Hobson rules his household with a rod of iron, but when his children and shoemaker rebel, what choice is he presented with? Discover the hilarity of his dilemma as Studio Theatre brings this delightful Lancashire comedy to life.

Many will remember the famous film version starring Charles Laughton, John Mills and Brenda De Banzie, and Studio Theatre’s cast bringing the play to life on stage features Alan Bailey, Matt Cann, Larry Fabian, Carla Morgan, Lisa Morgan, James Morrison, Jason Morrison, Sara Pruce, Tony Parker, Peggy Strudwick, Rod Vass and Fenella Watson.

Visit Studio Theatre online for more details.

As the most influential British purveyors of combined musicianship and humour in the past 50 years, I was somewhat hesitant when I booked to see Three Bonzos and a Piano at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, North Devon on 25th June. Would they still have that magical spark of genius or would it be better to rely on listening to their recorded glory?

A thorough drenching on the way there – it’s your fault, Glastonbury! – wasn’t an ideal start, but the arrival of Bonzos Roger Ruskin Spear, Rodney Slater and Sam Spoons, plus pianist Dave Glasson and guitarist Andy Roberts, soon had the audience and my clothes steaming.

From the start, classic Bonzo numbers honked out of Rodney’s and Roger’s saxes – Cool Britannia, Jollity Farm, Hunting Tigers – and the compact but enthusiastic audience joined in without prompting.

Roger Ruskin Spear, directing the proceedings in a manic, forgetful but totally entertaining manner, introduced his infamous electrified implements and robots on many of the songs. Reaching out into the audience as far as the mike lead would allow, he asked us the original questions preceding Shirt.

Unbelievably, I got the chance to shout a right answer – I knew memorising those words would be more useful than my degree – and was awarded with a signed certificate, as were other studious participants. This was followed by a solo on the electric shirt collar, while Trouser Press featured the electric trouser press and the theremin leg appeared on Noises for the Leg.

Across the stage Rodney Slater blew a mean sax, played washboard on Mr Slater’s Parrot and performed a mixture of new and old numbers, including Senior Moments and Ginger Geezer, the latter in tribute to the late Vivian Stanshall.

Sam Spoons lived up to his name with several virtuoso performances on the spoons, including electric spoons on Monster Mash. A country and western performance of Purple Sprouting Broccoli also included the audience in a sing-a-long.

As well as the three advertised Bonzos, we also got a free one: Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell. Uncle Vernon bewitched us with a stunning cabaret magic trick, held us spellbound with a children’s story and charmed us with an enchanting rendition of Marlene Dietrich’s Falling in Love Again, complete with solo on the musical saw.

The audience got into the full spirit of the show and were in stitches most of the time, whether at Roger and Sam with their human ventriloquist act, when joining in the lyrics of Viv Stanshall’s Tent and Big Shot or from the hilarity of the Music for the Head Ballet.

Organised mayhem ensured the whole show remained refreshingly rough at the edges, so that the evening flashed past in continuous laughter.

Three Bonzos and a Piano (33% extra free) should have packed out the Landmark because they were well worth seeing: I have the certificate to prove it.

Go and see www.threebonzosandapiano.co.uk

Grey clouds and spots of rain could not put off the procession to Ilfracombe of Jack-in-the Green to welcome summer.

Preceded by Ilfracombe’s town crier and followed by a procession including drummers and morris dancers, the revellers made their way to the seafront.

A good crowd turned out to watch the celebrations . . .

. . . including the world’s tallest person or shortest lamppost . . .

Then we enjoyed the beer festival in the Landmark Theatre and the music . . .

Anyone who is involved in theatre will know what goes into producing a show, so it’s quite exciting when everything starts coming together as it is for Me And My Girl at the Landmark Theatre this week.

The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe under a full moon

All the line learning, all the preparations, all the singing practice, all the dancing, all the costumes, all the rehearsals: everything is now coming together for Thursday.

The set of Me And My Girl at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, Devon

Suddenly, the magic is appearing and everyone is being transformed into the 1930s world of Hareford where the show is set. Even the seafront at Ilfracombe took on a magical appearance under the moonlight . . .

The promenade at Ilfracombe, Devon in the moonlight

I just can’t wait until Thursday night!

Now, a lot of people criticise the Landmark Theatre, calling it a blot on the landscape or looking like a nuclear power station, but for any faults with its external appearance (apparently, the choice of brick used causes an unsightly lichen to turn its cones black!), ‘Madonna’s Bra’ is a wonderful facility for any town, let alone a small seaside town. 

The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, Devon

From Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th October 2008, two Ilfracombe theatrical groups, Small Pond Productions and Studio Theatre, will be staging a spectacular version (we think) of Me And My Girl. With a hired stage set, a cast of 37 and an 11-piece band, it should be a great evening’s entertainment.

See Me And My Girl at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, Devon

I’m biased, of course, because I’m playing Parchester, the family solicitor, but I genuinely do think this will be a great show and appeal to many people with such songs as The Sun Has Got His Hat On, Leaning On a Lamppost and The Lambeth Walk. Oi!

Book your tickets from the Landmark Theatre box office.

Studio Theatre and Small Pond Productions are delighted to present Me and My Girl at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, Devon on:

8.00pm Thursday 16th October 2008 – tickets £10
8.00pm Friday 17th October 2008 – tickets £12
2.30pm Saturday 18th October 2008 - tickets £10
8.00pm Saturday 18th October 2008 – tickets £12
Book your group to see Me and My Girl

Book 10 tickets for any performance and get 11th ticket free.

Thursday 16th evening and Saturday matinée 18th October performances only – for groups of 20 or more – all seats £8.50 – call the Landmark Theatre box office on 01271 324242 and book your group now.

The show

Book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber. Music by Noel Gay. Book revised by Stephen Fry. Contributions by Mike Ockrent.

Originally produced at the Adelphi Theatre by Richard Armitage.

Subsequently produced at the Marquis Theatre, New York City by Richard armitage, Terry Allen Kramer, James M. Nederlander and Stage Promotions Ltd & Co.

A stunning production

If you have seen Studio Theatre’s production of Hello Dolly! and Small Pond’s production of Vicar of Dibley, you will know the high production values we aspire to in acting, singing, dancing, performance, costume and set. Me and My Girl promises to be a stunning production directed by Lee Baxendale and featuring the talented members of both companies.

Book now for a marvellous musical evening of entertainment from one of the best shows ever written.

Studio Theatre celebrates 10 years of its popular summer musical shows on the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Landmark Theatre by performing a selection of some 40 memorable showstoppers from 40 major musicals performed by a cast of 35, devised and directed by Lee Baxendale.

Performances on:

• Sunday 10th August – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
• Sunday 17th August – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe

Tickets £8.50; family ticket £28.00.

Book tickets from the Landmark Theatre box office on 01271 324242 or book online at www.northdevontheatres.org.uk.

Join in the fun of this all-singing, all-dancing celebration of your favourite musical moments in a show for all the family.

Visit www.studiotheatreonline.org.uk for more details.

The RNLI is hosting its Summer Splash at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe on Sunday 6th July 2008 from 1pm. There’ll be rescue demonstrations in and around Wildersmouth Bay plus fun and refreshments inside the Pavilion.

Pity I can’t find any details at www.rnli.org.uk as the volunteers deserve as much support as possible.

Hope the weather keeps dry!

I told you drama was coming and here it is . . .

. . . a production of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit performed by Studio Theatre at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe and in Berrynarbor and Woolacombe.

An old theatrical favourite, Blithe Spirit is the comic tale of a husband’s haunting by the mischievous ghost of his first wife.

Catch Blithe Spirit @

• Wednesday 23rd July @ 7.45pm – Berrynarbor Manor Hall
• Sunday 27th July @ 8.15pm – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
• Wednesday 30th July @ 7.45pm – Woolacombe Village Hall
• Sunday 3rd August @ 8.15pm – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe

Please note start times for each venue.

Book your Blithe Spirit tickets

Landmark Theatre tickets £8.50; Family ticket £28. Call the Landmark Theatre box office on 01271 324242 or book online at www.northdevontheatres.org.uk

Tickets for other venues £7 on the door. You can also buy tickets from Berrynarbor Village Shop and Woolacombe Tourist Information Centre.

Visit www.studiotheatreonline.org.uk for more details.