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The Ladybirds - Claire's debut at directing |
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Written by Claire Wallis
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 Claire Wallis is the director of this year's entry into the Henley Festival. She joined HAODS last year and has since performed in Fiddler on the Roof as Chava, Gloria in Return to the Forbidden Planet and soon to be Hortence in HAODS latest production of the Boyfriend. However, since joining the society she has been longing for the opportunity to have a go at directing. Claire has had wonderful support from the society to help this to happen.
Claire found the play The Ladybirds by Tony Layton whilst organising a play reading and fell in love with the script immediately. She wanted to put on a play that was light hearted, fun and that would enable me to work with more than two or three people. In fact The Ladybirds has an all female cast of 9.
It tells the story of a village drama group that has lost all their men. The future looks bleak until a bright, young director, Francesca Delmarco, agrees to help them out. She is professionally trained and she has a plan which will give the group a new lease of life. She persuades them to enter the 'Dame Agnes Wragg Festival of One Act Plays for an All Female Cast' with a play she has written herself. Francesca's play is controversial; it concerns a lesbian couple who want to have a baby. When the word gets out, the vicar's wife, Agatha Frost, attempts to ban the production. However, The Players have their own way of dealing with misguided authority.
"We have had a wonderful atmosphere in rehearsals and I have loved watching all the characters develop in their own way. I am proud of all my cast for their hard work and effort and I can't wait to see them perform at the Kenton Theatre in May."
So far HAODS festival entry will be performed at Norden Farm, in Maidenhead on Tuesday 27th April, The Kenton Theatre, in Henley on Thursday 6th May and at Cornerstone, in Didcot on Thursday 27th May.
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