Wick Players 'can't wait' to take to the stage locally with hilarious festival entry
Tickets have gone on sale today for a local performance of Womberang – Wick Players' entry in the Highland Divisional Final which takes place later this month.
"Wick Players can’t wait to get the chance to take to the Wick Assembly rooms stage after a break of over two years, due to Covid, and treat the audience to some long overdue live entertainment,” said Allan Bruce, the production's stage manager.
"It is fantastic for all involved with the play from Wick Players to get the opportunity to compete at the SCDA Divisional finals."
As runners up of the Caithness District the team are set to travel to Nairn to take part in the next round of the festival which is being held on Saturday, March 26.
The four other teams taking part are – Thurso Players, Buccaneer Theatre Club, Lossiemouth, The Florians, Inverness, and Plockton Amateur Dramatic Society.
Including the backstage team, a total of 13 people are involved in the Wick Player's hilarious production of Womberang, written by Sue Townsend and set in a hospital outpatients waiting room in the 1980s.
They took the runner-up trophy and the highest acting mark at the local stage of the SCDA 89th National Festival of One Act Plays, held in the Mill Theatre, Thurso, at the end of last month.
Directed by club secretary Jayden Alexander it is a very fast paced play with lots of laughs. He also plays the part of the Irish consultant Mr Riley.
Jayden said: "It’s great to get back together again as a club after so long, from both aspects which we have very much missed from Covid restrictions – the social side and of course the drama.
"The drama festival which was held in Thurso was a brilliant night, and the audience members were certainly entertained with a variety of different types of drama.
"We would like to congratulate Faye Sutherland and her team at Thurso Players for their win and we are just looking forward to competing again at the divisional finals in Nairn, which will be another great evening filled with lots of different plays from a variety of Scottish drama clubs."
He added: "We are also looking forward to performing to local audiences once again at Wick Assembly Rooms for one night only on April 19. We would like to extend our thanks to our members and local audiences for their support which is greatly appreciated.
"Wick Players have always been well supported by locals and it is both heart-warming and encouraging to see people coming out to support community drama again."
With a cast of 10, the adjudicator Ben Humphrey thought they were all marvellous with lots of amusing characters. He said Clare Center, who played Rita Onions was "absolutely bloody marvellous", with Gina Alexander who was her friend Dolly a "lovely foil". Margaret Thomson also made a very funny Mrs Connelly and gave a "fabulous performance" playing her part "brilliantly".
Also in the cast are Marney Bruce as Mrs Lovett, Chloe Bunch, as Lynda, Fiona Sinclair as Mrs Cornwallis, Frances Yellop plays the clerk, Sam Banks is James, with Carys Miller taking on the role of his wife Audrey.
At the local round Mr Humphrey said: "On the whole I thought this cast caught the intention and essence of the piece."
The Wick team have been continuing to rehearse since the divisional final for the local performance in the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday, April 19 – doors open 7pm, curtain up 7.30pm.
Tickets are on sale now and are available at the Flower Patch, River Street, Wick. Seating will be by table – this will work on a first come, first choice basis. Tea, coffee and refreshments will be available.
Related article: Thurso Players' dynamic cast of Just Vicki win Caithness round of one act plays
