ITS Newsletter Number 2 June 2025

ITS news June 2025 (2)

Our annual charity picnic “Lark in the Park”

There is only a week to go before the fabulous “Lark in the Park” outdoor event in Parque Torre Leonera in Benahavis on Sunday 15th June 2025. Entry is by donation so please go online and book for this magical event in aid of Aspandem and the ITS building fund.

We have singer and song writer Karen Danzig plus her Del Dol Singers, and a new one-act comedy “The Val Hala Fashion Show”. Bring your friends, your picnic and your seat cushions for this fun and very enjoyable afternoon/early evening fundraiser. Free carparking spaces in the townhall’s underground carpark or on the street.

Aspandem has asked for help in finding prizes for the raffle. The raffle usually boosts the amount raised by over 1.000€ so good prizes are needed. If you have anything suitable or can offer ideas, please let us know as soon as possible. Thank you.

Simon: Please insert the poster again

Wednesday 9th July at El Trapiche Cultural Centre in San Pedro.

Andrea Stevens will be directing the comedy “Four Old Broads” written by Leslie Kimbell as a rehearsed play reading.

(This is when the cast has a script in their hand to which they refer, it is costumed, has lights and music, and props but with a minimal set or no set.)

Auditions were held in May and were well attended. Andrea and Fiona, the producer, were impressed with the talent available to them and had a difficult time selecting the actors from the group attending.

Their cast is below, and includes two newcomers, Mary and Katie.

Beatrice Shelton: Sue Hall

Eaddy Mae Clayton: Mary Cooper

Imogene Fletcher: Margaret Dunkley

Pat Jones: Samantha Weaver

Maude Jenkins: Fiona Poole

Sam Smith: Paul Baker

Ruby Sue Bennett: Katie Rowlands

Director: Andrea Stevens

Producer: Fiona Poole

Stage Manager: Paloma Salgado

This hilarious comedy is about four sassy ladies living in a retirement home.

Tickets are 15€ for non-members and 13€ for ITS members. These are available on our website.

El Trapiche Cultural Centre in San Pedro is not licensed but we will provide a bar outside as usual. Doors open at 7 pm for a 7.30 pm curtain.

The exact location is shown (simon please add)

Simon; please insert the Old Broads image here

Auditions: Sunday 20th July 2025

Martin Curd, the director, will be holding auditions for the main play that will be performed on 17th, 18th, and 19th October 2025.

The play will be David Tristram’s “Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime”. It is a fast-moving comedy with slapstick and comic timing.

The producer will be Sue Hall and Sue Moreton will be the stage manager for this production.

The auditions will take place at the Age Concern Centre in San Pedro at 12.30 pm on Sunday 20th July 2025. There are parts for three men and three women.

Synopsis:

Inspector Drake is brought in to solve a murder. Did Doctor Short murder his fourth wife, or did she murder him first? Why did Sabrina’s marriage to Mervin the Mountie fail in Canada? Was Short’s wife a warthog?

Characters:

3 male / 3 female

Drake Male / Any age

Sleuth extraordinaire. Insane? …. Perhaps. A romantic? …. Perhaps. Shrewd …. Undoubtedly.

PC Plod Male / Over 40

Hapless constable who is as daft as a brush and ends up the butt of many of the jokes and gags

Dr Short Male / Mature – 50 / 60 / 70 years

Highly intelligent. Dry witted. Smart. Sneaky. Likeable? … Not really!

Sabrina Female / 20/30/40/50’s

Young enough to be Dr. Short’s daughter

Miss Short Female / 20/30/40/50’s

Is she really Dr. Short’s daughter?

Mrs Short Female – Any age – Dr Short’s fourth wife.

Small role at the outset of the play.

If you wish to attend, please reply to this email. If for any reason, you cannot attend the auditions but are interested, please also let us know.

Other Future Dates for your diary

*Wednesday 10th September: Peter Brooks will be leading a play reading evening. He has chosen a comedy that you will certainly know, and we will be dressing up again (if you wish) so start looking for your 50s/60s UK holiday wear. We are thinking sunglasses, beads, bangles, socks with sandals, loud shirts, shorts, summer dresses, summer hats etc

*Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th October: Martin Curd will direct the main play by David Tristram, “Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime”.

* Friday 14th November is our 50th Anniversary party ay El Gammonal Restaurant.

*Friday 12th December is our Christmas celebration meal at Urban Chai.

*Wednesday 21st January 2026 A rehearsed play reading

*Wednesday 18th February 2026 A play reading

*Wednesday 18th March 2026 Our Annual General Meeting

*Wednesday 15th April 2026 a rehearsed play reading

*Friday 8th, Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th May 2026 our main play, “Ladies’ Day” directed by Sheila Mellor

ITS Newsletter June 2025

Sunday 15th June 2025 is our annual Lark in the Park Charity event in the Parque Torre de Leonera in Benahavis.

Please join us for this magical outdoor event. Appearing live on the night is the wonderfully talented singer and songwriter Karen Danzig. She will be belting out her repertoire and encouraging us to dance. She is also bringing her brilliant Del Sol Singers to entertain.

And of course, we start the evening with a one act play written by Sheila Mellor, Kate Jackson and Sandra Mole. They have re-named it the “Val Hala Fashion Show”. (It was originally monikered “After a Fashion”.)

Naturally, it’s a comedy, with a large cast of some of our superb actors.

The chosen charity this year is Aspandem. Created in 1980 and based in San Pedro, their aim is to provide support to children and adults with disabilities. They offer special attention and help to individuals and offer a lifeline to the families who may need assessment or help on this coast. They work alongside the two local townhall administrations and the Ministry of Health. The employ over 140 people and have several centres including two residences for adults and an education centre.

The proceeds of this event will be shared with Aspandem and our ITS’ building and equipment fund, as we strive to find and then fund our forever home.

Entry to this event is by donation via our website. The minimum suggested amount is 20€ per person. Book HERE

Then all you have to do is come along, bring your friends and your picnic, and a cushion for the theatre seating. Be prepared to relax, eat, drink and enjoy an awesome afternoon that turns into an evening of laughter and dancing, if you wish!

The park opens at 3pm, the amphitheatre opens at 6pm and the show begins at 6.30 pm. We will be out of the park before 10 pm.

Free car parking is available at the Town Hall in their underground carpark or in the surrounding streets.

Please note that there are no facilities to purchase food or drink near the venue.

The park is easily accessible and there are a couple of disabled parking spaces outside the main gate. There are two sets of toilets in the park area.