Jessie Harper

Sad news has reached us from Ruth Rutter that Jessie Harper, a longstanding member and sometime chairman of the Davenham Players has died. Our sympathy goes to her family. 

May Newsletter

COGNITIVE THERAPY BY MRS PETE BROMAGE OPENS TUESDAY 12TH MAY

Cognitive Therapy, the author’s first play, is a comedy published by New Theatre Publications whose patrons are comedy writing legends Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

• Take five new patients who are to start Cognitive Behaviour Therapy classes at the local health centre.
• Stir in a doctor, a counsellor, a clinical psychologist and a receptionist.
• Add a tea trolley...
• ...and remember the saying, 'if you need to see a psychiatrist you need your head examining'
• This lot are well beyond that.
• Especially as one is an undercover policewoman.
• Another is a cold blooded murderer.
• Love is to blossom amongst the tea cups?

This play has numerous twists and turns and alongside all the entertainment and comic momentum there is a willingness to touch on some of the more troubling aspects of mental illness and depression. 

Cognitive Therapy runs from Tuesday 12th May to Saturday 16th May at Davenham Players Theatre, 59 Church Street, Davenham CW9 8NF. Doors Open 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm

Tickets at £9.00 each are available online via Danarts at  http://www.danarts.org/events/davenham-players-cognitive-therapy/ or by phone on 01606 259596. Don't leave it too late to book!

THURSDAY 28TH MAY - JAZZ @ DAVENHAM – THE MAGIC BEANS

On Thursday 28th May, Jazz@Davenham is pleased to present the MAGIC BEANS and then on Thursday 18th June the JAZZ WORRIERS come to Davenham. Bookings are currently open for both concerts and is strongly recommended to ensure you get in.

Thursday 28th May - THE MAGIC BEANS

For those who like singers, we have a very entertaining concert. The MAGIC BEANS are a musical democracy between Zoe Kyoti (voice), guitarist Ulrich Elbracht and double bassist Matt Owens. The band likes to experiment with a quirky cover or two stretched in a completely new direction with a sprinkling of originals. Arrangements come from a diverse range of sources from jazz standards to soul & rock bands but re-worked into the Magic Beans' sound of roots, acoustic, folk & jazz. Their second Album Anything You Can Dream, was released in March. Sure to be great fun.

Thursday 18th June - THE JAZZ WORRIERS 

Jazz@Davenham is pleased to present and welcome back, in conjunction with Jazz North, this highly entertaining quintet. All the guys in the Worriers are firmly established northern based musicians, well known and respected on the scene. Their coalescence into The Jazz Worriers was through the drive and creative urges of both Neil Yates (Trumpet) and Dean Masser (Sax). For those who haven't yet had the pleasure you have a treat in store. Think  Blue Note , Art Blakey's Messengers, Dexter Gordon and you are on the mood of this impressive quintet.

Tickets for both gigs can be booked by email or by phoning Harry on 01606 74502 or Dave on 01606 44253. Click here to see the Jazz page. Advance booking is strongly recommended for both gigs. Doors and Bar open at 7:30pm. Music starts at 8:00pm.

NORTHWICH LITFEST 2015 ALL THROUGH JUNE. NINE EVENTS AT DAVENHAM

Northwich LitFest is again holding a number of events across Northwich in the month of June 2015 and nine of them are at Davenham Theatre. Several events are free to enter.

The events at Davenham are listed below, but for a full list of events and descriptions click here. 

• Thursday 4th June - Carol Matthews
• Saturday 6th June  - Simon Guerrier
• Monday 15th June - Martin Edwards
• Wednesday 17th June - Maureen & Mike Melville
• Friday 19th June - Rowan Coleman
• Tuesday 23rd June - Elizabeth Williams
• Thursday 25th June - Laura Lockington with Sarah Rayner
• Saturday 27th June - Laura Lockington with Carole Solazzo
• Tuesday 30th June - Mark Carey

PETER RILEY – A LEADING LIGHT AND DRIVING FORCE OF THE DAVENHAM PLAYERS

Sad news has reached us that Peter Riley, one of the earliest members of the Davenham Players, died last month. Peter was an architect by profession and took a leading role in the Players' purchase of our Church Street theatre. The theatre, once a local 'dame school' was previously a Conservative club and the main hall was used as a snooker room.

Peter and his fellow members at the time got together to raise the funds to purchase no. 59 and then converted it for its present use as a theatre. Peter was also heavily involved as both an actor in and director of Davenham plays but his skills as an architect became invaluable when the group took on the task of transforming the Club into a theatre.

Peter had not lived in the area for some time – he and his wife moved to southern England some years ago, but he is remembered by several current Davenham members. Paulette Anderson acted with him and was directed by him, notably in a production of Billy Liar, which play she in turn directed in 2013. Peter travelled up to Cheshire to see Paulettes's version of the play  a couple of years ago and this was the last time they met.

PLAY READING THU 21ST MAY, COMMUNITY MOSAIC AND FUNDRAISERS

Paulette Anderson is holding a reading of one-act plays to be performed as a joint production with Moulton Drama Group in July. The date of the reading at the theatre is Thursday 21st May 7:30pm. The plays will be performed at both theatres – first at Davenham from Thursday 16TH July to Saturday 18th July and then at Moulton from Thursday 23rd July to Saturday 25th July.

A substantial  amount was raised for Comic Relief at our last production The Price to Pay. 

One of our members, Shaun Dunne, together with Northwich Rotary, has also raised almost £1,000 towards our theatre improvement project. A big Thank You to all those who attended these fundraising events and a special Thank You to Shaun and those who collected and donated.

You may remember that, towards the end of last year, we told you about a Community Mosaic project that has the aim of designing, building and installing a Davenham-themed mosaic in the side  yard of our theatre. The excellent news is that the design is complete and that building the mosaic is to start imminently. Jan, the next-door neighbor of the theatre, is masterminding the project. Jan is recently back from successfully completing a qualification (in Venice!) as a Mosaic Designer, so the project could not be in better hands. Look out for the opportunity when next visiting the theatre to sponsor a tile.