Take the Last Bow with Me!

Door Closes. Window Opens?

Take the Last Bow with Me

by Jackie Howting

Edmundian Players at Nelson Hall, Whitton, 22^nd March

Review and retrospective by Josh Dalton

It was a rather cold and dark Saturday night in Whitton, where a number of confused audience members arrived at Cheray Hall the home of the Edmundians for the last sixty years, having not taken note of the different location across the road. It was a mystery to some as to why the latest production was taking place somewhere new, and why there had been no Christmas panto, but all was soon to be revealed.

Despite the strangeness of being in an unknown space, the friendly and familiar faces who have made the Edmundians such an established and well-loved group gave everyone a warm and loving welcome. The hall was laid out in cabaret style, with the audience seated around tables with snacks and teas provided, and this further added to the community and family feel this group has successfully and uniquely cultivated over the years. The walls were covered with fascinating archives of the group’s history, including photos, programmes, press cuttings and letters of appreciation from local charities and members of the Catholic clergy.

The Edmundian Players originated way back in 1964, the brainchild of two parishioners, Bernard and Mauren Langham, who had recently joined the congregation of the local Catholic Church, St Edmund of Canterbury RC church. They joined forces with four other parishioners, Barbara and Eric Newman and Hugh and Joyce Nunns, and produced their first play, rehearsing and performing in the church hall. The group quickly flourished and, fast forward sixty years, the group has been locally famed for providing the Whitton community with its annual sell-out panto, and many other productions, including murder mystery evenings. It has also been part of community events and fundraising. The group has become a community hub for many, providing lasting friendship and camaraderie, obviously evident by the cast and crew returning for each new production as well as events in the community, a phenomenon which is now largely unknown in the local amateur scene.

Take the Last Bow with Me mixes fact with fiction and tells the story of a church-based amateur drama group, doing their best to overcome a number of increasingly challenging obstacles put in place by the new incumbent. They are told that they need to undertake health and safety inspections and risk assessments to use the stage; they are told they can no longer store scenery, costumes and props, and need to clear the premises and the stage within a very tight deadline; they are told they aren’t a parish group (particularly heart wrenching as one of the characters describes his previous isolation and loneliness before joining the group, another telling of her increased confidence since being involved and making life-long friends) and the final nail-in-the-coffin, that they need to pay market rates to use the hall. Unbeknown to them, the builders start descending to demolish the stage. All of this has happened without a reason being given nor asking for the views and opinions of the rest of the church. Our fictitious group respond by barricading themselves in the hall .. and then the fun starts!

A number of established Edmundian Players (Ellen Walker-Dibella, Matt Power, Matt Ludbrook, Becky Halden and Savannah Swyer) formed the delightful cast who played members of the committee, and were joined by relative newcomers, Sean Carey and Rhian Kiernan, who portrayed Scout and Guide leaders who then join their cause. Under the direction of Jackie Howting, who also wrote the script, and Matt Nicholas‘ musical direction, we are treated to a memorable evening of storytelling, enhanced with song and dance routines which trace the group’s history of putting on musicals as well drama. Of the straight plays, their production of Abigail’s’ Party caused much reminiscing.

With minimal on-stage costume changes, the talented actors effortlessly transform into different characters from South Pacific and showcase their lyrical harmonies. Matt Power and Savannah Swyer perform a beautiful and heartfelt duet ‘Shall we Dance’ from The King and I. Rhian Kiernan, interject a contrast recalling one of the directors outings with the Bard, as she performs one of Juliet’s soliloquies with pure emotion. Then it’s back to the musical theatre as Matt Ludbrook leads on a risqué rendition of ‘Life is a Cabaret’. Becky Halden comes into her own with ‘Do Re Mi’ from The Sound of Music and Ellen Walker-Dibella leads the cast with a rousing but poignant rendition of ‘Consider Yourself’ from Oliver.

All these songs are interspersed with various ideas to keep the drama group alive, despite having unceremoniously lost their Thespian home. Ingenious solutions such as becoming a touring company and performing at other halls or even care-homes, as well as having quiz nights and other social events, give the group hope for the future. We are reminded of The Sound of Music where Maria wisely says “when the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window”.

Sadly, the experiences of the fictitious local players in Take the Last Bow with Me echoes those of many such long established community groups. Although modern work pressures often preclude involvement in voluntary activities, in spite of continued enthusiasm, the main cause as with Edmundians is the increasing demands on buildings, such as church halls, where unfortunately financial interests to make the building pay trump community needs. Another example in the Richmond borough is the disbanding last year of SMDG, the drama group of St. Mary’s CoE church, which had previously lost its own theatre in the church hall.

From last night’s performance and coming together of the group’s many friends and supporters, it feels that despite a short hiatus, The Edmundian Players will overcome their own fair-share of challenges and obstacles to continue this popular and very much loved and appreciated Whitton institution.

Josh Dalton, March 2025

Photography by Becky Halden