The Davenham Players

Play Reading Social
2023-11-02 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-10-05 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-09-07 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-07-06 19:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | Davenham Theatre, 59 Church Street, Northwich, CW9 8NF, United Kingdom
Would you like to

Try your hand at reading a part out loud
Help Davenham Players find good play scripts
Come along for a social and meet us and other drama people
Have a quiet cup of tea and biscuits and listen

You can do all of these things if you come along to the theatre at 7:30pm each first Thursday of the month. Just turn up and Dee will do the rest. Tea and biscuits free for members. Small contribution for non-members.
CONTACT DEE FOR MORE INFORMATION here

Davenham Comedy Club
2023-10-29 19:30 - 22:30
Tickets @ £13 now available through our ticket shop at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/davenhamplayers

Jazz Nicola Farnon Trio
2023-10-26 20:00 - 22:30
NICOLA FARNON TRIO
Widely recognised as one of the classiest Jazz and Swing singers and/or double bassists in the UK, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nicola Farnon has a remarkable musical pedigree, both parents being professional classical musicians and her great uncle no less than the late Robert Farnon.
Originally raised classically on the cello and the piano, Nicola started singing and playing double bass in her twenties which led to a jazz career spanning 25 years (so far!).
Nicola has played and recorded with such Jazz luminaries as Dave Newton, Digby Fairweather, Jim Mullen, Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes and alongside class jazz acts as diverse as Eliane Elias, Courtney Pine, Georgie Fame,Tony Kofi, Michael Garrick Jazz Britannia Orchestra, Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine, Humphrey Lyttleton and Acker Bilk.
On stage Nicola is a class act with a passionate and swinging style, outstanding personality and a charismatic stage presence to match – with an uncanny ability to adapt her performance to captivate and embrace any audience.
LINE-UP
Nicola Farnon – Double bass and vocals
Richard Weatherall – Keys
Phil Johnson – Drums

Bookings can be made via email jazz@davenham.co or telephone Harry on 07717 224 238 / 01606 74502 Doors open 7.30pm music at 8pm.Tickets £13 on the door
If you are suffering from Covid symptoms please do not attend and in any case advise us if you are unable to attend for any reason.
From JAZZ@DAVENHAM TEAM
GREAT GIGS
FABULOUS BANDS
Click to see the full Jazz Programme
SPONSORED BY TATTON BREWERY
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk

Spitting Feathers Band - Caught in the Act
2023-10-21 20:00 - 22:30
Tickets @ £12 adult £6 U-16 available now from our ticket shop

AUDITION - 'Heaven Sent' by Sebastian Thiery
2023-10-18 19:30 - 21:30
AUDITION NOTICE
Heavent Sent by Sebastian Thiery
I will be directing the above play to be staged at Davenham Theatre in late Feb 2024 and I hope that you might be interested in coming along to our second audition on Wednesday18th October. So this is just a line to say you would be very welcome.
The play was written by Sebastian Thiery a French writer. We will be working on an English version translated and relocated to an upmarket Manchester suburb by Charlie Gobbett. The cast of 2 M and 2 F, four great parts and a brilliantly funny script make it a great play with a surprising end.
Please do come along .
Best wishes
Sheila Hetherington

Davenham Writing Group
2023-10-16 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-08-21 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-07-17 19:30 - 22:00
Davenham Writing Group – Monthly Meeting
Come on down to the monthly Writing group at Davenham Theatre run by Flick Goodman. Whether you are a writer or a performer you are welcome to come to this relaxed group.
If you have written something and you want it read out loud, want to flex those writing muscles with a few short exercises, or want to try writing for the first time, this friendly group welcomes all levels.
For more details you can contact Flick here

Hands Up Who's Happy? by Doodlebug Productions
2023-10-14 19:30 - 22:00
A one-night only opportunity to see Doodlebug Productions present
HANDS UP WHO’S HAPPY?
A play by Steve Cooper
Inspired by Victoria Wood
Originally commissioned by the Victoria Wood Foundation and Bury’s ‘Happy Festival’, HANDS UP WHO’S HAPPY? is a fast-paced, thought-provoking, laugh out loud comedy
Small cast + big heart = happiness!
After being granted privileged permission to rummage through Victoria Wood’s personal archive, Rawtenstall born Steve Cooper has produced a play that celebrates her style and humour, without being too fawning.
Victoria wasn’t a fan of fawning!
A FEW AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
“Thought-provoking and hilarious”
“Literally non-stop laughs, start to finish.”
“Clever, unique, funny, dynamic. An amazing energy created in the room.”
“Bloody brilliant. Best laugh I’ve had in ages.”
“Oh, ye gods! It was brilliant and then some!”
“Our cheeks are sore from laughing.”

“We’d like to apologise to viewers in the north, it must be awful for them.”
(Victoria Wood)
SATURDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2023 AT 7:30PM
NOT PART OF OUR SEASON TICKET OFFER
Tickets @ £12.00 from our Ticket Shop

Acting Group
2023-10-09 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-09-11 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-07-10 19:30 - 22:00
Our Acting Group at the theatre on the 2nd Monday of every month gives anyone a chance to get up and have a go at some acting! There will be scripts, games and some friendly faces. No pressure, just play. Run by Tom Barry. Give it a try!
Free for members. £1 for non-members

AUDITION - 'Heaven Sent' by Sebastian Thiery
2023-10-02 19:30 - 21:30
AUDITION NOTICE
Heavent Sent by Sebastian Thiery
I will be directing the above play to be staged at Davenham Theatre in late Feb 2024 and I hope that you might be interested in coming along to our first Audition on 2 Oct. So this is just a line to say you would be very welcome.
The play was written by Sebastian Thiery a French writer. We will be working on an English version translated and relocated to an upmarket Manchester suburb by Charlie Gobbett. The cast of 2 M and 2 F, four great parts and a brilliantly funny script make it a great play with a surprising end.
Please do come along .
Best wishes
Sheila Hetherington

Ivan Campo & Greg Oldfield
2023-09-29 20:00 - 22:30
Following on from a couple of visits to the Northwich area in 2022 [March – Davenham Theatre / Sept- Salty Dog] and a more recent tour of mainland Spain – a return for Ivan Campo alongside Greg Oldfield to the area – bringing their fantastic tunes alongside the Worlds greatest drum kit; best to check out youtube to determine what musical box they fall into…if any…
All monies raised via ticket sales go to the bands and the theatre.
IVAN CAMPO
Having met in the city of Preston whilst studying contemporary music at University, English folk-pop trio Ivan Campo are now set to release their highly-anticipated tenth studio album and have now returned with their latest offering ‘The Girl Who Dreamed’.
With an impressive back story that includes four studio sessions for BBC 6Music and having their song ‘The Great Procrastinator’ featured on TV series Skins, ‘The Girl Who Dreamed’ sees them return in stellar form. With its light and uplifting aesthetic that combined wistful guitar hooks and sweeping vocals, their newest delight is sure to brighten the day of anyone who hears it.
https://www.mysticsons.com/article/getting-know-ivan-campo
GREG OLDFIELD
Opening the night will be Widnes born singer-songwriter Greg Oldfield – previously in Great and Lady Soul, releasing several singles on Virgin Records.
He is known for lyrics that often refer to his home town, and was a member of the Smoking Dragons project, writing much of the music.
Online tkts available from 30th June
£11.00
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/570968
£10.00 [mark me as a friend]
paypal.me/andrewwhalley1
Local cash purchases
Call 07510 853 589 to arrange

Cheers
Andrew & Samantha Whalley
56 Green Avenue Davenham Northwich Cheshire CW9 8HZ

Jazz Dean Stockdale`s `Celebrating Oscar` Quartet
2023-09-28 20:00 - 22:30
The ‘Celebrating Oscar’ Quartet is a new quartet playing inventive arrangements of Oscar Peterson’s original compositions together with music that he was associated with. Dean Stockdale is a highly regarded jazz pianist, arranger and composer based in the North of England. He is known for his sensitive, swinging style and regularly appears around the UK with some of the best names in UK jazz. The band focus on bringing the infectious swing of Oscar’s music and showcasing his own compositions. The quartet features:

Dean Stockdale on keys
Gavin Barras on bass
Gaz Hughes on drums
Tim Williams on guitar

Bookings can be made via email jazz@davenham.co or telephone Harry on 07717 224 238 / 01606 74502 Doors open 7.30pm music at 8pm.Tickets £13 on the door
If you are suffering from Covid symptoms please do not attend and in any case advise us if you are unable to attend for any reason.
From JAZZ@DAVENHAM TEAM
GREAT GIGS
FABULOUS BANDS
Click to see the full Jazz Programme
SPONSORED BY TATTON BREWERY
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk

"Rules for Living" by Sam Holcroft
2023-09-23 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-09-21 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-09-20 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-09-19 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-09-18 19:30 - 22:00
RULES FOR LIVING
by Sam Holcroft
September 18th to 21st and 23rd 2023
Everyone creates their own coping strategies or ‘rules for living’, but what happens when an extended family gathers in the dining room for a traditional Christmas and they each follow those rules, rigidly?
In Sam Holcroft’s theatrically playful, dark comedy the family does just that. And when the instructions are there for all to see, audience included, there’s really no place to hide.
As long-held mechanisms for survival are laid bare, even Mum, who’s been preparing this lunch since last January, becomes embroiled.
Long-held rivalries and resentments will out. Accusations fly, relationships deconstruct, the rules take over and a fast-paced comic delight ensues!
TICKETS @ £12 NOW AVAILABLE
CHECK OUT OUR SEASON TICKET OFFER
FOUR PLAYS FOR THE COST OF THREE
CHECK OUT OUR TICKET SHOP AT
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/davenhamplayers

NO Davenham Writing Group IN AUGUST
2023-08-21 19:30 - 22:00

NO Acting Group IN AUGUST
2023-08-14 19:30 - 22:00

NO Play Reading Social IN AUGUST
2023-08-03 19:30 - 22:00

AUDITION - 'Allo 'Allo by Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft
2023-07-21 19:30 - 22:00, 2023-07-20 19:30 - 22:00
AUDITION NOTICE – ALLO ALLO
Auditions will be held on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 July 2023 – 7.30pm at the theatre.
Members and non members welcome!
Written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft
Directed by April Johnson (april@btinternet.com 07711 709946)
Run dates: 21- 25 November 2023
Rehearsals: To be agreed at first read through. Starting with read throughs week commencing 21 August 2023
For this production we need larger than life characters and true comic timing. We want the audience to be enthralled and entertained! So, if you are a strong performer and would love to be part of this production, come along and audition! We will have so much fun doing this show, all we ask is that you learn lines early so we can focus on the character interaction, the comedy and physical theatre element.
CHARACTERS
RENÉ ARTOIS Male, middle-aged French Café Owner, playing age 40-60. This is the central role, René is on stage most of the time and drives the show’s narrative. René is the only character to frequently break the 4th wall to speak directly to the audience. René is a self-confessed coward who tries to remain impartial whilst always protecting his own best interests. He is a harangued but charismatic everyman and despite a rather ordinary appearance seems to have an irresistible allure, particularly to his two young waitresses and also to Gruber, a friendly German Officer who likes to frequent the café. This is a physical role which will involve lots of sexual innuendo and a number of amorous scenes!
COLONEL KURT VON STROHM Male, playing age 40-60, German. The Colonel is the corrupt town commandant who likes to line his own pockets with stolen Nazi treasures. He is a frequent visitor to the café where he seeks favours from the waitresses. He also forces René to conceal stolen artefacts for him and in return keeps secret the knowledge that René is hiding the British airmen in his basement. He is greedy, vain and self-serving yet remains quite likeable despite all of this. Ideally, the Colonel should be played by someone who is stocky. The Colonel wears a “wiglet” for a large part of the play. Sings/speaks a line in one of Edith’s cabaret songs.
CAPTAIN ALBERTO BERTORELLI Male, playing age 20-50, Italian. Bertorelli is a flamboyant, bombastic Italian captain attached to the German forces. He believes himself to be very charming and has a keen eye for the ladies, but he loves nobody more than he loves himself. Bertorelli is over-the top in both his speech and physicality. Bertorelli is in league with Colonel Von Strohm and also plans to profit from undeclared stolen Nazi goods. He sings /speaks a line in one of Edith’s cabaret songs and has to impersonate Hitler in Act 2. 4
HERR OTTO FLICK Male, playing age 20-50, German, preferably blonde but not essential. Herr Flick is an agent of the Gestapo. He walks with a limp and uses a stick as a walking aid/weapon! He is reportedly Himmler’s godson and aspires to be like his Nazi hero. Flick is entirely emotionless and cold, yet still manages to demonstrate a repressed /mildly sadistic passion for his assistant Helga. Flick is nearly always seen in long leather coat, pin stripe suit, leather gloves and glasses. In this show he plays the violin, dances a tango (stiffly) and also disguises himself as a sexy cinema usherette. Please do let us know when auditioning if you are adept at any of these skills!
LIEUTENANT HUBERT GRUBER Male, German, playing age 20-60. Gruber is a kindly German officer, who doesn’t much enjoy his official duties (with the possible exception of time spent in his “little tank”). Gruber does enjoy his visits to the café though, and lives in hope of expanding his relationship with René, with whom he feels he has a special bond! Gruber frequently walks in on René in a variety of compromising or embarrassing positions. The subtext of course is that Gruber is hopelessly in love with René, which should be played with subtlety and not overtly camp.
GENERAL LUDVIG VON SCHMELLING Male, German, playing age 40-60. General Von Schmelling does not appear in the TV show but is a similar character to General Von Klinkerhoffen. He is a senior officer who takes his military duties very seriously indeed. He is a strict, authoritative figure who takes a very dim view of the Resistance, and corruption within his own ranks. Everyone is terrified of him, with the exception of Herr Flick. Schmelling is supposed to have a wooden leg and he could also wear an eye patch.
OFFICER CRABTREE Male, British, disguised as a French “poloceman”, playing age between 20-50. A gem of a part, this character has some of the most popular catchphrases from the series, e.g. “Good moaning! I was just pissing by…” etc. Crabtree is a British undercover agent posing as a very sombre French policeman. His knowledge of French is very weak, and he often uses the wrong vowel sounds leading to comical misunderstandings! The actor taking this role would ideally be tall and slender. This is a physical role and will involve some compromising positions!
ROGER LECLERC Male, French, playing age 60+ (can be aged up for the part). An elderly forger and escaped convict he now works for the French Resistance. Leclerc appears in a variety of different disguises (all unconvincing)! In the TV series, Leclerc was also the pianist who accompanies Edith in the café, but it’s not imperative Leclerc is a piano player as we can fake it!
RAF AIRMEN: FLIGHT LIEUTENANTS FAIRFAX AND CARSTAIRS 2 x Male Roles, British. Fairfax and Carstairs are the British Airmen in hiding in René’s café, awaiting repatriation with the help of The French Resistance. Should be played as the quintessential “chocs away” happy-go-lucky Brits. Whilst these roles are very memorable from the series, there are relatively few lines for these parts in the stage show. The airmen pop out of various hidden locations on the set. We may build these roles further to include between-scene sketches as well (TBC). These parts can be doubled with a backstage role and would require relatively little rehearsal.
EDITH ARTOIS Female, French, playing age 40-60. Demanding but faithful wife of René Artois. Despite being a terrible singer, Edith believes that she is a musical star and regularly performs a cabaret at the café which is usually badly received by the patrons. Edith has 2 musical numbers in the show, which need to be comically off-key! Edith is very gullible, passionate and long-suffering. For the audition, as well as script work we will ask you to perform a short burst of a song of your choice, preferably with some movement as well. The song can be anything, but think about the kind of song Edith might sing! Your challenge is to try to make me laugh – singing out of tune won’t be an issue but a bonus!
YVETTE CARTE-BLANCHE French waitress, tall and attractive, ideally brunette. Playing age 18-40. Yvette is a good looking waitress who is having a passionate affair with René. She hopes to elope with him one day. As a side-line Yvette & Mimi “entertain” soldiers in one of the upstairs rooms of the café. Yvette also takes part in the grand cabaret, so she may need to be able to sing and dance. As part of the audition for this role, we may ask you to perform a short burst of a song of your choice, in a comedic and saucy (ha!) style with some movement as well.
MIMI LABONQ French waitress, short, cute. Playing age 18-40. Mimi Labonq is a feisty waitress and secret assassin working for the French Resistance. Mimi is also having a passionate affair with René unbeknownst to Edith or Yvette. She is tempestuous and fiery and often has to be held back from attacking German visitors in the café. As a sideline Yvette & Mimi “entertain” soldiers in one of the upstairs rooms of the café. Mimi also takes part in the grand cabaret so she may need to be able to sing and dance. As part of the audition for this role, we may ask you to perform a short burst of a song of your choice, in a comedic feisty style – please think about adding with some movement as well.
MICHELLE DUBOIS French, local leader of the Resistance Movement, playing age 20-40. Catchphrase: “Listen very carefully, I will say this only once”. Michelle has persuaded a reluctant René to help them hide 2 British Airmen in the cellar. She frequently appears in disguise and is highly passionate about her cause. Speaks with a French accent except when talking to the British Airmen when she adopts an exaggerated upper class English accent.
PRIVATE HELGA GEERHART German, playing age 20-40, preferably blonde. Attractive secretary to General Von Strohm. Helga is in a strange sadomasochistic relationship with Herr Flick. Helga has to strip down to her sexy lingerie in one scene (TBC!!!). She also will be performing a very uptight tango in another scene. Helga is clipped and severe but a sexy seductress lurks underneath her harsh exterior.
PLUS 4 x Extra actors (Male or female) to appear in various café scenes and also double as stage crew.

Jazz Philip Clouts
2023-06-22 20:00 - 22:30
Making a welcome return to Davenham, South African born Philip Clouts brings his quartet playing original compositions from his latest CD `Umoya`. On this album, Clouts’ African inspirations extend beyond Cape jazz to pan-European folksong, soul-jazz and even drum ‘n’ bass.
Clouts was born in Cape Town and the music of his homeland has stayed with him as he has continued on a voyage of discovery that has led him across all five continents, soaking up Caribbean calypso and the soulful strains of the Indian subcontinent while honouring and learning from jazz heroes including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd.
Since moving to Dorset in 2006 he has responded to his new surroundings with impressionistic compositions that complement and chime with his world music interests, resonating with folky themes and packing pungent rhythmical punch.
Quartet Lineup
Philip Clouts keyboard/composer
Samuel Eagles saxophones
Tim Fairhall double bass
Ted Carrasco drums
Bookings can be made via email jazz@davenham.co or telephone Harry on 07717 224 238 / 01606 74502 Doors open 7.30pm music at 8pm.Tickets £12 on the door
If you are suffering from Covid symptoms please do not attend and in any case advise us if you are unable to attend for any reason.
From JAZZ@DAVENHAM TEAM
GREAT GIGS
FABULOUS BANDS
Click to see the full Jazz Programme
SPONSORED BY TATTON BREWERY
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk
