Society News 2019

Barbara Longford (above), the founder and Chairman of the Rattigan Society since 2011.  Barbara stepped down as Chairman at the recent AGM – read her Chairman’s Report which includes highlights of Society events since 2011 here  Chairman’s report – AGM

The Society’s AGM, play reading and buffet lunch was held on Saturday, 30th November at Doggetts Coat and Badge in London.

The AGM was the Society’s opportunity to thank Barbara Longford who stepped down as Chairman and celebrate the enormous amount of work, energy and dedication she has given to the Society.  She founded the Society in 2011 and since then has been planning and arranging most of the events over the past eight years.  Barbara reported on the highlights of the many exciting events that have taken place since the Society’s inception.

The play read was Wrong Move by Peter Briffa, directed by Michael Gaunt and performed by Giles Cole and Martin Amherst Lock.   Wrong Move was submitted for The TRS Award and was considered to be outstanding by our readers. It involves a chess-master, Temple, who is annoyed at what he sees as an unfair portrait in a new novel and so entices the author, Ogden, to a basement where he confines him with release only possible if he wins a game of chess. Through interminable games the relationship between the two is explored.  We were pleased that Peter Briffa was able to join us for the reading and lunch.

The Society has recently joined the Alliance of Literary Societies – do visit their website: allianceofliterarysocieties.wordpress.com and in particular the publications area where you will find newsletters and copies of the ALS journal ALSo.  The Autumn 2019 Newsletter from the ALS is now available on their website.

Two events were held at the British Library on Tuesday 17th September.  Both events were hosted by Society member Professor Dan Rebellato.

At the first event called ‘Show and Tell’ Professor Rebellato and a British Library Curator enabled Society members to see and handle some of the early drafts of Rattigan’s most famous plays, letters, cuttings files and more.

At the second event called ‘Craftsman at Work!  Secrets from the Rattigan Archive‘ Professor Rebellato, who has worked in the Rattigan Archive for over twenty years, gave an illustrated lecture with a glimpse into what the Archive can tell us about Rattigan’s process, his craft and his theatre.

Members’ Event: Saturday 12th May, 2018

The Richmond Theatre, Little Green, TW9 1QJ

THE WINSLOW BOY

2.30 p.m.  Matinee

This is a new production by Mark Goucher Productions Limited.  Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, the leading players are Tessa Peake-Jones as Grace and Aden Gillett as Arthur. The play is touring the country, beginning at the Chichester Festival Theatre in February.  The Society has made a block-booking with a price reduction of £28 for best stalls seats.

The exquisite Richmond Theatre opened in 1899 with a performance of As You Like It and is one of the finest surviving examples of the work of theatre architect Frank Matcham.  The building, in red brick with buff terracotta, is listed Grade 11* by Historic England.  John Earl, writing in 1982, described it as: “Of outstanding importance as the most completely preserved Matcham theatre in Greater London and one of the most satisfying interiors.”

and an optional post-theatre

SUPPER at The Duke Public House (with a complimentary glass of prosecco)

5.p.m.  2, Duke Street, TW9 1HP

The Duke is situated just around the corner from the theatre and members had supper there in 2015, after a performance of Flare Path.  The food and service is excellent and good value.  The average price of a starter is £6.50 and a main course £15.  The house wine is £18 a bottle.  You will receive the menu choices later and we shall need to pre-order.  Members will pay for the meal individually on the evening.

Download the Booking Form/Flyer Here

First performances of the award-winning play ‘The Onion at the End’

THE TERENCE RATTIGAN SOCIETY AWARD FOR A NEW PLAY

The first performances of the award-winning play ‘The Onion at the End’ by Roy Kendall, took place in February 2018 at The Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs, directed by Michael Friend. Here is the cast (from Left to Right)

From Left to Right: Lainey Shaw, Edward Broomfield, Johanna Pearson-Farr (TRS President, David Suchet) Clive Greenwood, (TRS Vice President, Julian Fellowes), Stephen Martin-Bradley, and Edward Bloomfield (aged 14) making his professional debut.

Please Click Here for details of all seventeen final plays, which The TRS would like to recommend for future production.