70 Years of Musical Memories

It was my immense pleasure to be asked to provide cover for a colleague Dan at Hartlepool Stage Society’s concert, “70 years of musical memories.” Not a group I’d been to before but as I would be passing on my way back from work, I thought I’d call in.  I’m so pleased that I did!  A beautiful venue in the Town Hall Theatre- which was almost like a Tardis inside, so spacious and impressive.  I had a lovely warm welcome from the Stage Society’s committee and was made to feel right at home.  Thank you all so much for being so welcoming.

There was a lovely huge cast on stage of juniors and seniors and the members seemed to just keep coming, a really large inclusive group of people.  The backdrops were fabulous, provided by projection and made sure the audience always knew the context of the beautiful vocals they were hearing.  The production team consisted of a team – Sarah Charlton, Jill Jackson, Christine Langridge, Liz Marshall, Lucy Reed and Peter Rowlands.

Hartlepool Stage Society’s story really is incredible and I was suitably impressed. They started off as a G&S Group in 1953 then have evolved through the years, but not only as a amateur theatre group but as property owners too!  They’ve aspired to and managed over the years to secure themselves premises, something most groups can only dream about.  Seriously well done, you’re an inspiration to us all.  The video footage of your accomplishments and journey was lovely.

There was a huge selection of group numbers, duets, solos and choreographed numbers which the audience thoroughly enjoyed, so many it would be extremely difficult to list them all (I’d be typing all night) but also so many incredible performers it would be almost impossible to highlight individuals really.  I did thoroughly enjoy them all, the choreography was well rehearsed, expression and acting through song excellent and the subtle as well as major costume changes as well as singing off book without words in a concert made it really quite special.  It was nice to hear song of the “older” classics being performed which are less popular or even impossible to perform now, such as songs from Showboat.

Of note though was the number, “Freedom” from Mean Girls which was really exceptional so well done to the performers there.  The arrangements on “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel were absolutely gorgeous too, not an arrangement I’d heard before.  The tap in “Anything Goes” was excellent, well done and extremely well executed.  Very impressive.

I’m told that Hartlepool Stage Society won their first (surely not?) NODA Performance Award for “The Addams Family” in 2023 and I could certainly see why when the numbers were performed.  Really exceptional all of you, well done.  Full of energy, costume and flair, I loved it!  great choreography on “Tango L’Amore”.   I predict many more to come if that’s the calibre of show you’re performing.  I certainly will be making the trip back down for “Young Frankenstein” the next show for 2024 for the seniors!  I’m told the youth are performing “Nativity” also, a lovely addition to their repertoire.

Thank you all so much for welcoming me so warmly.  You were fabulous!

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