| Centre
Stage,
Exmouth
 14-20 music and drama society, Centre
Stage have an exciting weekend,
Three performance and a anniversary party
where we hope as many of our previous members will attend.
The
concerts are on at the Pavilion, Exmouth
on Friday 21st July 7.30pm, Saturday
22nd at 2.30pm and Sunday 23rd at
7.30pm
Mark Worsley
Chairman
Centre Stage is a youth theatre group based in Exmouth and
was formed 34 years ago as the 14-20 Music and Drama Society.
Although a name change in 1991( to allow younger people than
14 to be involved in the society), the aims remain the same
over that long period.
“ to encourage and help young people to appreciate the arts
of music, dance and drama through performances and by other
means deemed suitable by the management committee. All other
aspects of theatre such as script-writing, scenery design,
lighting, make up, costumes, etc shall be incorporated when
requested by the membership.”
The society uses the Exmouth Pavilion as its theatre and
spends a good deal of money transforming a multi purpose hall
into an auditorium, adding along the way an orchestra pit,
a full set for stage and many other pieces of electrical stage
lighting and sound.
As a hobby amateur operatic societies offer many benefits
to older people to allow them to let off steam, to get away
from the toils of working life, to enhance social lives etc,
for young people this is also evident ,but there is an added
bonus in so much as it also builds confidence , self respect,
respect for other and adds to an individual developing their
own character. Over the years this hobby has led to many young
people moving on to drama schools, some of which can now be
seen appearing in the West end and on television and other
developing their own businesses in the world of entertainment.
The usual year for Centre Stage, depending on how challenging
its musicals may be, would involve, a singing competition
in which it has won first place on numerous occasions , a
one act play festival, a weekend trip to London to see a top
show, a residential weekend on Dartmoor two productions, a
summer school teaching all aspects of theatre at a local college,
entries into carnivals , singing at residential homes and
for local charities, and a summer, autumn or Christmas ball.
Over the years other one off events have included singing
at the London Palladium in celebration of 100 years of the
National Operatic and dramatic association of which we are
affiliated to, performing at the Royal Albert Hall raising
money for Cancer Research U.K and a trip to Exmouth’s twin
town, Langerwehe in Germany to perform 3 productions of Les
Miserables School Edition.
The society is run by a committee of volunteers who give
up an incredible amount of time to assist in the smooth running
of such an active, vibrant group. It is also completely self
funded and this becomes difficult when costs of performing
productions alone can cost at least £17000.00, but of
course to see 50 young people benefit in the way that they
do is worth every penny.
Centre Stage and its future is obviously very important to
us and as a committee we hope to look into providing our own
premises, continuing with professional productions and giving
as many young people an opportunity to progress through their
teenage years with a really positive outlook.
Mark Worsley
Chairman, Centre Stage
|
looking for old friends, history
