When Annie’s husband John dies of Leukaemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow Women’s Institute members, Cora, Celia, Ruth and Jessie, to pose with them for an ‘alternative’ calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer, Lawrence. The news of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales. The calendar is a success but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new-found fame.
Based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund, Calendar Girls opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre and has since become the fastest selling play in British history.
In partnership with the National Trust (NT) and The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) CDDG’s open air production of “The Tempest” was performed (damply) in the Courtyard of Trelissick Garden, a unique and beautiful NT property on the Fal Estuary.
CDDG explored the themes of the play from a female standpoint encouraging a shift of perspective by both actors and audience alike.
The play was visually magical, fast paced and accessible; you did not have to be a “Shakespeare specialist” to enjoy this production.
Perranwell in the Dark Ages…
The Dark Ages were that period of history that fell between the Romans and the Normans (the bit they always missed out at school), when the Kings of Cornwall lived in Perranwell. That is why the pub is called the Royal Oak, of course, and the royal palace was about where the post office is now.
If your reaction is to say at once ‘Oh, no, it wasn’t’, there will be a rousing chorus of ‘Oh, yes, it was!’, because we are in the world of this year’s village pantomime. Jack the Giant Killer is based on the old Cornish legend of the brave lad who slew Giant Cormoran and Giant Blunderbore. In our version there is rather less slaying and rather more interest in the fate of the village pasty shop, driven into bankruptcy under the old-fashioned Mrs Goongumpus and revived by the progressive Perran and Worthal.
We’ll give to you a thrilling glimpse
Of piskies, giants and naughty imps.
We’ll teach you how to make a pasty
And how to deal with villains nasty.
Jack the Giant Killer has been written by David Ivall, who has been associated with Perranwell for over thirty years. We hope everyone in the village and surrounding area will come along to discover more about its (slightly fictionalised) history. Just think; this could be your only chance to attend a theatrical world première!
The 41st Pantomime production for our drama group was Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. A traditional family pantomime full of fun, laughs, music, dance & spectacle.
Our talented group enthralled us with the story of Snow White, and allowed our younger members to be part of the cast as the seven dwarfs. You were definately “Happy” and Brainy”, when you came to see this production and would have been “Grumpy” & “Dopey” to have missed it!!
Those dull January evenings were brightened as we saw “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” at Perranarworthal Memorial Hall, 25th – 29th January 2011.
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
7-11 September 2010
No one would have believed, in the last months of 2008, that it would have been possible to stage this unique production at Trelissick Garden. No one could have dreamed that Jeff Wayne would have given permission for his iconic musical to be performed by a Cornish Amateur Dramatic Group. Few men even considered the possibility of staging such a project and yet, over the last twelve months, minds immeasurably imaginative regarded this production with creative eyes, and slowly and surely, put the show together.
War of the Worlds
Thanks to the vision of Chris Curtis and The National Trust, Trelissick Garden was the unique venue for the premiere by a Cornish company of Jeff Wayne’s musical version of ‘The War of The Worlds’. The commanding panoramic views of Falmouth, the Fal estuary and the open sea coupled with the superb collection of tender and exotic plants and extensive park, woodland and riverside walks made this a day to remember.
War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds
With and ensemble of over thirty actors, eight principal performers, acrobats, dancers, singers, and a Martian Fighting Machine it was an epic production. The story, based on the HG Wells novel, was acted out on the specially commissioned outdoor stage accompanied by a feast of lighting and pyrotechnics, which was enveloped by the eight piece band whose task was to bring the music to life.
War of the Worlds
Featuring the hit singles ‘Forever Autumn’, ‘The Eve of The War’ and ‘The Spirit of Man’ Jeff Wayne’s musical version of ‘The War of The Worlds’ is one of the best known albums in the world. Having recently celebrated its 30th anniversary an official tour has taken the musical to Holland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the length and breadth of the UK and now – under licence to the Carnon Downs Drama Group – to Feock, near Truro, in Cornwall!
To celebrate its 40th anniversary Carnon Downs Drama Group is restaging Dick Whittington and His Cat, the pantomime we first performed in 1970.
Can there be anyone who has not heard the tale of the boy who went looking for streets paved with gold in London and who, when he discovered the truth, started to return home only to hear the Bow Bells ring out ‘Turn again Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London’?
But does everyone know that he was a real person who in 1397 really did become Lord Mayor and married Alice daughter of Alderman Fitzwarren? (In fact he was Lord Mayor 4 times but let’s not spoil the story!)
People came to Perranwell Village Hall to discover how it all ended happily ever after….
