ITS Newsletter - January 2026

Dear Friend and Supporter

Happy new year to you and your family. We wish you peace, joy, good health and happiness for 2026.

Yes, Prime Minister
We open the new year programme with Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn's play Yes, Prime Minister, directed by Miles Rendle and produced by Sheila Mellor.
We will be performing this on Wednesday 21st January 2026 at the Polivalente Centre in Nueva Andalucia at 7.30 pm. It is a rehearsed play reading.
It is based on the popular British political satire sitcom written by the same playwrights.
Tickets are on sale now via our website. These are 8€ for ITS members and 10€ for non-members.
Miles has a tremendous cast with Russell Hood, Andrew Gommersall, Bernie Murray, Martin Curd, Sheila Mellor and Samantha Weaver.

The venue is not licensed but we will provide a pop-up bar with a limited range of drinks, held outside for a donation.

There is plenty of free on-street car parking and easy access in this new venue.

Christmas Celebration
Thanks to everyone who attended our meal and mini-pantomine at La Grappa. We had an entertaining night thanks to Kate Jackson who wrote and directed the mini-panto and to Sheila Mellor who organised our members to showcase their talents.

Our February event ...

Martin Curd will be leading our play reading evening on Wednesday 18th February 2026 at the Atalaya Golf and Country Club. He is calling it "A Barnyard Tail evening" and the readers will be dressing up. Props and costumes where needed will be provided on the night. Play reading evenings are your chance to read a part and showcase your talent, or simply sit, listen and enjoy.
Tickets for this event are available on our website and are 14€ for ITS members and 17€ for non-members. This will include pizza slices with one drink provided.
Meeting from 6 pm onwards for a 6.30 pm start.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Our next AGM will be held on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Papers and details to follow asap. Please reserve the date.

THESPA, based in Fuengirola
Eileen Audas, our treasurer, is also the secretary of THESPA, an English speaking, well established, monthly "play reading with supper" group based in Fuengirola. They meet at the Masonic Lodge each month for a meal, reading and social night out.
They are looking for a volunteer President ......might this be you or someone you know?
If so, please reply to this email ASAP.

Best Wishes,
Martin Curd, President

ITS December Newsletter

Dear Friend and Supporter

It's our Christmas celebration

If you haven't already booked for our Christmas celebration evening at La Grappa Restaurant on Friday 12th December 2025, you need to do so before Friday 6th December please as we have to notify the restaurant of the meal choices in advance.

The cost is 32€ per person for two courses, 37€ each for three courses. This includes a tip, the entertainment and the booking fee. The menu is at the end of this email and repeated online when you book the tickets and select the food choices.

All drinks are extra and have to be paid for as you order them please.

We are meeting at 6.30 pm, with the meal at 7.15 pm.

Kate Jackson is directing a mini pantomime and Sheila Mellor is coordinating the entertainment. We will be showcasing our talented members, so if you have a party piece, please let Sheila know by replying to this email ASAP!

This is a fun, relaxed, sociable and enjoyable annual event and we look forward to seeing you.

Yes, Prime Minister

We open the new year with a rehearsed play reading.
Miles Rendle will be directing “Yes, Prime Minister” written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn on Wednesday 21st January 2026 at the Polivalente Centre in Nueva Andalucia at 7.30 pm. Sheila Mellor is the producer.

Thank you to everyone who auditioned last weekend, Miles has a fabulous cast as follows:

Jim Hacker: Russell Hood

Sir Humphrey Appleby, Cabinet Secretary: Bernard Murray

Bernard Wooley, Principal Private Secretary: Andrew Gommersall

Claire Sutton, Special Policy Adviser: Sheila Mellor

Reporter: Samantha Weaver
Ambassador: Martin Curd

The synopsis is:
A wry quick-footed political comedy in which the Prime Minister faces an impossible diplomatic scandal. Three men and one fiercely capable woman navigate a storm of ethics, ambition and exquisitely timed chaos inside the beating heart of government.

Tickets are available now on our website and are 8€ for ITS members and 10€ for non-members. This new venue is easily accessible. It is not licensed but we will provide a limited bar service outside, with payment by donation.
Car parking is available on-street outside the venue.

Our 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Thank you to everyone who attended this lovely event and helped us to celebrate our fiftieth year of providing live theatre on this coast. It was wonderful to see past presidents, Board members, long-standing members with over 40 years, 35 years, 30 years etc connection with ITS, alongside our newer recruits.

The raffle raised 600€ for the ITS building and equipment fund. Thank you for your generosity.

A special souvenir programme was produced by Eileen Audas and Fiona Poole, and sponsored by Eileen. We have some copies left for those not able to attend the dinner. These will be available at our next events.

We were delighted that Sue Hall was released from hospital in time for the party, following her four week stay. During this time she sadly missed the Inspector Drake production despite all the planning and preparation she had done for it, as the producer.

Resignations

Sadly, PJ Lopez our vice president, and Peter Brooks, one of our longstanding Board members, have both resigned from the Board. We will miss them both as they have been instrumental in our planning and producing some fabulous past productions. We know that they will both continue to participate in our future events, thank goodness!

New appointments

Sheila Mellor and Fiona Poole have both been asked to be vice presidents, and have agreed. Kate Jackson and Sandra Mole have both been asked to join the Board. All these posts will be ratified by members at our Annual General Meeting in March 2026.

Suggestions for plays

Our play reading committee would love to hear from you if you have seen any really good plays recently that we might be able to do. We like the classics, new plays, quirky plays, funny plays, murder mysteries etc
So please let us know.

Christmas Celebration Menu

Please choose from the following:

Starters
1. Vegetable Soup
2. Goats Cheese Salad
3. Prawn Cocktail

Mains
4. Roast Turkey
5. Vegetable Lasagne
6. Sea Bass
all served with vegetables carrots, peas and broccoli

Desserts
7. Mince pie with custard
8. Creme Caramel
9. Ice cream

If you have any dietary needs please contact Ruth as soon as possible.
La Grappa Restaurant is in the Centro Comercial Las Palmeras in Benavista, 29680.
There is plenty of parking available right outside

Best Wishes,
Martin Curd, President