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Published: 21 August 2013

The International Theatre Studio's June production, 'A Lark in the Park', raised no less than 2500 € for the Spanish charity Caritas and last month a cheque for that amount was presented to Leila Bourquin from its San Pedro branch. The ceremony took place in Benahavís town hall.

The show, which is an annual ITS event, took place once again this year in the auditorium of the Benahavís's beautiful Parque Leonera by kind permission of the Ayuntamiento. A packed audience enjoyed a variety of entertainment and a one-act play and a picnic break under the stars.

All money raised by the event goes to charity and this year's choice of beneficiary was prompted by the plight of many local Spanish families hit by the economic crisis. Caritas operates from the Virgen del Rocio parish church in San Pedro and presently ishanding out food to approximately 720 people each month. In addition they help meet electricity and water bills and provide housing and meal vouchers. Further help from the ex-pat community comes from the Anglican Church which shares the premises for its Sunday services.

Caritas continues to rely oncontributions in cash and kind; items in particular need are milk, sugar and oil and such donations can be taken to the church on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 6 to 8pm.

Of those receiving help from Caritas, over 70% are unemployed with no means of their own. Many are homeless or living in poor housing and over 11% lack family support.

The charity thanked those member of ITSwho took part in the entertainment and gave their time,and those who supported the evening.

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Published: 07 August 2013

 
There will be an Audition held on Tuesday 17th September at El Candil San Pedro 7.30 for 8 p.m. for The Opposite Sex. Dates of production; 15th, 16th and 17th November at Atalaya Park Hotel.

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Published: 23 July 2013

Thank you to all those who came along to the Parque Leonera in Benahavis on a hot June evening to help raise money for CARITAS, the charity helping those of our Spanish neighbours suffering badly in the economic crisis. We hope you enjoyed the show and your picnics in the park and we're already looking at ways to improve the event for next year. It was somewhat amusing that the bullfrogs joined in with their own chorus but we'll try and avoid that next time! Thanks to your generosity we are able to give a cheque to CARITAS for 2,500€, which is terrific news.

The cast and crew of "Dirty Dusting", which some of you may have seen at the Atalaya Park Hotel in March, are rehearsing again as the show is to be performed by the International Theatre Studio at the Salon Variétés in Fuengirola on 13th, 14th and 15th September. The play was such a success in March that the Salon felt it would go down equally well with audiences further along the coast, so very well done to all those concerned with the production. I hope that those of you who missed the play in March, or who would like to see it again, will buy tickets for the Salon dates and we'll be sending out more information about that nearer the time.

Auditions for our autumn production, a very funny comedy entitled "The Opposite Sex", by David Tristram, are scheduled for 7.30pm on Tuesday 17th September at Bar El Candil, San Pedro. The play will be directed by Diana King and an audition notice giving information on the characters and the play will be sent out nearer the time. Audition details will also be advertised in the local press. The proposed dates for the production, at The Atalaya Park Hotel, are Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November, so pencil the dates in your diary and we'll be sending out more details in the early autumn.

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Published: 17 May 2013

Our next play reading in Bar El Candil, San Pedro, will be on Tuesday 28^th May at 7.30pm for 8pm. As usual, tapas will be available on a pre-ordered basis and more information about the evening will be coming out very shortly. These evenings are proving very successful and are a lovely way to meet up and enjoy reading a good play in good company. They are also an excellent way for those who like theatre, but haven’t yet found the nerve (or the desire) to audition for a part on stage, to try out their skills. So, whether or not you want to read a part, do come along and join in the evening.

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Published: 17 May 2013

The International Theatre Studio has had a great success with the spring production, “Dirty Dusting,” and the very large number of you who saw it (a record number for recent years) found it extremely funny. It was so popular that it will be performed again at the Salon Variétés in Fuengirola on 13/14/15 September (details nearer the time). Thanks to all who helped to make it such a success and most grateful thanks to Vice President, Carol, for all her hard work keeping everything running in Diane Clarke’s absence.

Looking forward, our next event will be a play reading in Bar El Candil, San Pedro, on Tuesday 28^th May at 7.30pm for 8pm. As usual, tapas will be available on a pre-ordered basis and more information about the evening will be coming out very shortly. These evenings are proving very successful and are a lovely way to meet up and enjoy reading a good play in good company. They are also an excellent way for those who like theatre, but haven’t yet found the nerve (or the desire) to audition for a part on stage, to try out their skills. So, whether or not you want to read a part, do come along and join in the evening.

On Sunday 23^rd June we’re holding our annual charity event “Lark in the Park” at the lovely venue Parque Torre Leonera, Benahavis. The evening will follow the usual formula of variety and a short play with an interval for everyone to enjoy their picnics in the beautiful gardens. In the last few years we have held this event in September, but this year we thought we’d try to put on the show in June when, hopefully, more of our audience will still be here before flying north for the hot summer months. Rehearsals are underway so make sure you put the date in your diary and arrange to bring lots of friends. Our charity this year is CARITAS, the Spanish charity that collects and distributes food and other necessities for local people who are badly hit by the present financial crisis, so do please try and support this very important and worthwhile cause.

Looking ahead to the autumn, we’re delighted that Peter Brooks, whom many of you know from his productions at the Salon Variétés, will be directing a play for the International Theatre Studio. Peter has been a member of ITS for many years and directed plays for us in the past so we’re very happy that he’s available to direct for us again. He is presently deciding on a play to be produced in November at the Atalaya Park Hotel.

 

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Published: 08 March 2013

We will be holding an unrehearsed play-reading at El Candil in San Pedro de Alcantara on Monday, April 22nd 7.30pm for 8pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend and to read or not as they wish.

'Silent Night' by Colin and Mary Crowther. It is a heartwarming story about an ordinary family in extraordinary times: the Blitz, Winter 1940.

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Published: 08 March 2013

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the International Theatre Studio will be held on Thursday
21^st March, at 7.45 for 8pm at Bar El Candil, San Pedro.

All are very welcome to attend, although only those who have paid their membership subscriptions for 2013 may vote. Our Secretary, Wendy Castle, will be there and will be happy to take any subscriptions due for this year. A calling notice for the AGM will be sent out shortly.

It is our custom to offer a free drink and tapas to those who attend so that once the formal meeting is over we can all enjoy a social get-together. I do hope that many of you will come along as it’s an interesting evening and a good way to get to know people and exchange ideas. Please let us know if you want to attend, so that we have an idea of numbers for the tapas.

If any of you know of anyone you think might be interested in finding out more about the International Theatre Studio, please bring them along to the play or the AGM or put them in touch with Wendy on 952 00 02 24. We are always keen to welcome new members whether they wish to act or help with general production tasks.

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Published: 19 February 2013

A RACY COMEDY BY ED WAUGH AND TREVOR WOOD

at

THE ATALAYA PARK HOTEL, DISCOTECA

on

FRI 8 & SAT 9 MARCH at 8PM & SUN 10 MARCH at 7PM

Tickets are available at Bookworld, Guadalmina;
Glitterati, Diana Centro; Longman’s, Estepona;, English Bookshop, Sabinillas,
Viva, San Pedro

or

Telephone: 952 88 06 30 or 952 88 02 40(eves/weekends)

When three cleaning ladies face redundancy, they decide to set up a new business – a saucy telephone chat line! This means they have to learn a few new tricks and they must keep it all from their bosses, husbands, children and grandchildren! This is a laugh-out-loud, heart-warming comedy, an evening of great entertainment and something a little different from our usual productions. Make sure you come along to enjoy the fun.

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Published: 08 February 2013

The main theatrical attraction in the coming months is the very funny and saucy play "Dirty Dusting", by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood. The dates will be March 8th, 9th and 10th, at the Atalaya Park Hotel disco.

The play is directed by Kate Jackson and features Carol Woolnoth, Paul Baker, Carmel Rogers. We had intended to have Eileen Audas as the third elderly office cleaner but she has unfortunately had to withdraw for a forthcoming operation. Her part will instead be taken by Kate Jackson.

Rehearsals are well under way and it should be a highly entertaining evening of adult humour.

Synopsis

When the three cleaners, Olive, Gladys and Elsie, are threatened with redundancy they feel that their lives are coming to an end, until a chance wrong number gives them a new business start-up idea – why not run a saucy telephone chat line? They've got motive, opportunity and a lifetime of experience – some more than others, mind you.

Provided Elsie can teach the other two a few new tricks, there’s no reason why they can’t get rich quick, providing they can keep their operation a secret from their bosses… and their husbands…and their children…and their grandchildren.

A searing indictment of ageism in the 21^st Century heavily disguised as a hysterical, laugh-out-loud, heart warming comedy, it promises an evening of great entertainment and something a little different from our usual productions.

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Published: 08 February 2013

We had our Christmas celebration at El Caserio Restaurant on Saturday,
8 December. It all went off very smoothly, everyone I have spoken to was very happy with the choice of menu and the quality of the food. There was also a terrific magician who did table magic and acted as a DJ for the music as well. It was a really successful evening and great value for money. A total of 35 people attended, both members and friends. I am sure we shall be repeating this by popular demand.

We had a play reading on 21st January in El Candil bar/restaurant in San Pedro. We read 2 plays by Stephen Smith. One called 'Eight Seconds' and the other 'Barbecue'. About 30 people came, including 2 new young ladies from Marbella who were kind enough to read 2 of the parts for younger women. We very much hope they will become actively involved with our society.

The 2 plays are linked by local GP Lydia. She is new to the area and 'Eight Seconds' is set in the local doctors surgery while the senior partner is away on a course. The title refers to the average time a GP listens to a patient before interrupting them! 'Barbecue' takes place at her new home, as she hosts a house warming barbecue for her new neighbours, who turn out to be feuding with one another.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening, both plays are very entertaining and a mixture of comedy and pathos, showing problems people face and how they can be helped to deal with them.