Director : David Henty

This pantomime was an adaptation by David Henty of The Christmas Pantomime written by Kim Williamson. For SHADES’ first ever pantomime, this was an enormous success. The audience loved the characters, the slapstick and the witty simple pantomime humour. The Story of Natas, a nasty man trying to stop a local drama group from staging their Nativity Play, was well enjoyed. A strong cast contained local Councillor Rob Cooke, Sally Marchant (drama teacher at William Parker Sports College) and Tom Watling, a dancer with West End Experience.  SHADES Theatre Company was pleased to have the support in the show of DanceMoves School of Dancing and Performing Arts, from Bexhill-on-sea, who brought extra vitality and visual enhancement to the show with their accomplished dancing (notably their Cats number) and colourful costumes. Also supporting were Open Door Entertainers from MENCAP, who were a joy to watch, with their enthusiasm and uninhibited involvement in their acting, singing and dancing of Footloose.

The Hastings Mayor, Kim Forward and local MP, Amber Rudd, both attended the matinee and enjoyed the performance. Amber Rudd wrote

“A fantastic show. It managed to be entertaining while promoting a serious message, which is an achievement. I was impressed by the enormous number of different ages and abilities that participated. My enjoyment was particularly enhanced by sitting behind the Rainbows who loved every minute and joyfully howled replies when invited to.”

Those who were unable to attend missed a thoroughly entertaining curtain raiser to Advent and preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus.

Some photographs and video clips can be viewed on the Gallery Page.
A DVD by Howard White is available should anyone wish to see the show. Contact David Henty on 440076 or email david.henty@shadestheatre.com .

This was the final tour performance of Clerical Errors and took place at The Salvation Army Temple Ore,  on Saturday 23rd October 2010 at 7.30 p.m.

Clerical Errors takes place in a small disused Methodist Chapel. A family of vagrants has taken over the Chapel. The parishioners are not at all happy, even though the Chapel is not used. No-one wants to take the family in and the Social Worker is called to deal with them. Julie’s outspoken views and the plight of her family moves the Minister enough to persuade him to bed down with them in the Chapel as a squatter in order to prevent their eviction and the family being split up. Can they hang on until their dad is released from prison in five months’ time?

The play looks at a number of social issues, particularly homelessness and has a strong Christian message for all of us. Written as a hilarious comedy, it should appeal to all ages, Christian and non-Christian.

All proceeds went to the work of The Salvation Army in the UK

For photographs and video clips, go to the Gallery.

This was the third tour performance of Clerical Errors and took place at Battle Memorial  Hall on Saturday 16th October 2010 at 7.30 p.m.

Clerical Errors takes place in a small disused Methodist Chapel. A family of vagrants has taken over the Chapel. The parishioners are not at all happy, even though the Chapel is not used. No-one wants to take the family in and the Social Worker is called to deal with them. Julie’s outspoken views and the plight of her family moves the Minister enough to persuade him to bed down with them in the Chapel as a squatter in order to prevent their eviction and the family being split up. Can they hang on until their dad is released from prison in five months’ time?

The play looked at a number of social issues, particularly homelessness and had a strong Christian message for all of us.

For more information contact  01424 40076 or email info@shadestheatre.com using the contact form on this link.

Clerical Errors takes place in a small disused Methodist Chapel. A family of vagrants has taken over the Chapel. The parishioners are not at all happy, even though the Chapel is not used. No-one wants to take the family in and the Social Worker is called to deal with them. Julie’s outspoken views and the plight of her family moves the Minister enough to persuade him to bed down with them in the Chapel as a squatter in order to prevent their eviction and the family being split up. Can they hang on until their dad is released from prison in five months’ time?

The play looks at a number of social issues, particularly homelessness and has a strong Christian message for all of us. Written as a hilarious comedy, it should appeal to all ages, Christian and non-Christian.

For more information contact  01424 40076 or email info@shadestheatre.com using the contact form on this link.

A Charity performance with free admittance and a retiring collection, £587 was raised for the Charity Hope Kitchen (charity number 1131550).

Hope Kitchen is an inter-church soup kitchen in Hastings, which feeds homeless people on Thursday and Saturday evenings. Funds are being raised to purchase a property for a rehabilitation centre for people with addictions.

Clerical Errors takes place in a small disused Methodist Chapel. A family of vagrants has taken over the Chapel. The parishioners are not at all happy, even though the Chapel is not used. No-one wants to take the family in and the Social Worker is called to deal with them. Julie’s outspoken views and the plight of her family moves the Minister enough to persuade him to bed down with them in the Chapel as a squatter in order to prevent their eviction and the family being split up. Can they hang on until their dad is released from prison in five months’ time?

The play looks at a number of social issues, particularly homelessness and has a strong Christian message for all of us. Written as a hilarious comedy, it was enjoyed by the packed audience who, it seemed, could not stop laughing!

In the presence of the  Mayor, Maureen Charlesworth and local MP Michael Foster, the Company performed many memorable sketches and excerpts from its past productions. Rev’d Chris Sears, one of SHADES’ Chaplains, said Grace before the buffet and also gave thanks for the Company’s 25 years existence. Photographs and video clips were shown of every major production since the first in 1991 at William Parker School (now Phoenix Arts Centre).

Besides those living in Hastings and neighbouring towns, past members had travelled in from as far away as Wales and Northamptonshire in order to take part or simply to join in the celebration. Good wishes were sent via a video clip from Portugal and a card from Australia.

Some songs from the Music Hall in 1998 and The Last Bomb Shell in 2005, gave the audience the opportunity to have a sing-along and the delightful voice of Leigh-Anna Harris (aged 10), singing Love Changes Everything (from the last production All the World’s a Stage in 2008) entertained us to the end.

The evening was most memorable and nostalgic for its members, past members, friends and family as well as for many of the Company’s loyal supporters, without whom it would not be celebrating this anniversary and on whom it depends for the next 25 years!
New members are always welcome for acting, back stage work or organization!

For photographs, video clips and reviews, go to the Gallery.

Dates and Venues
25th July at St John’s Church Hall, Pevensey Road;
8th August at Sedlescombe Village Hall;
19th September at Fairlight Village Hall;
3rd October 2009 at His Place Community Centre, Silverhill

Director: David Henty

The Cast (click image for a larger picture)

For more photographs, video clips and reviews, go to the Gallery.

God’s Favourite is a comedy about a modern day biblical Job, written by the popular American playwright Neil Simon.

It was performed in the Stables Theatre, Hastings UK on February 23rd, 24th and 25th 2006.

The Cast (click image for a larger picture)

Cast of God's Favourite

JOE BENJAMIN : David Henty
BEN BENJAMIN : Tom Cooke
SARAH BENJAMIN : Nicola Roper
ROSE BENJAMIN : Linda Jeal
DAVID BENJAMIN : Robert Cooke
MORRIS : Ian McNulty
MADY : Brenda Sorby
SIDNEY LIPTON : John Lyttle

Production Team
Director:  Julie Henty
Stage Manager:  Julian Rumball
Properties: Pamela Reade
Costumes:  Julie Henty
Publicity: Jo Solomon, Nicola Roper
Front of House:  Ray Knott
Foyer Photographs:  Glynn Boyd
Poster and Programme Design:  David Henty and Bernard Perkins

For more photographs and video clips of this production go to the Gallery